Who in your dojo/area/organization gives you inspiration in your training? Is it the person who has won the most trophies? The person who leads your organization or region? Or is it someone that most people do not even notice?
During more than two decades of karate training, I have come in contact with some truly inspirational individuals as well as some who seemed at first to be worthy of great admiration, but were later found to be severely lacking as people.
Sure, Nakayama Sensei was inspirational. Anyone who met the man would agree with that. But many other famous karateka in Japan turned out not to be all that inspirational. I have trained under and next to many of the past JKA All-Japan and World Champions. But many of them did not really impress me as particularly worthy of the admiration given them by their followers around the world. There are very many people outside of Japan who automatically assume that an instructor is better just because he has a Japanese name. There are some great Japanese karate instructors. But there are many who are not Japanese who are great as well.
So, who has been inspirational to me? Some of them almost nobody reading this article would have ever heard of.
In the first dojo where I trained, the main instructor was not the best technician, nor instructor, for that matter. But she has a passion for karate nonetheless. She has worked hard to keep her dojo going when it was losing money, when there were very few students, and when she was going through some turmoil in her personal life. I admire her dedication to the art and commitment to her students.
One of my sempai (seniors) from that dojo told me several years ago that I was one of his idols. I told him that he was actually one of mine. He idolized me for having moved to Japan for karate right after graduating from high school. I idolized him for training despite severe arthritis.
I presently have a student who does not look particularly impressive, although he has been doing karate off-and-on for over 30 years. This student has had so many injuries, operations and other set-backs, yet is back and training to the best of his ability. I would rather have a dojo full of people like this student, than of people who are physically skilled but lack a good attitude. It is so much more rewarding teaching people who show a real interest in wanting to learn and improve, even if their improvement is slow.
I remember watching a dan exam in the early 1980's in which one gentleman was testing for sandan. He did not look all that impressive at first. In fact, it looked like something was definitely lacking in his performance. It turned out that he had had a stroke not long before and was basically still paralyzed on one side of his body. Considering this, he did an outstanding job and was truly impressive.
Another time, I was at a kyu exam. A man taking the exam that night was completely blind. Every time he turned during basics or kata, he did it with more precision than anyone else there. The only accommodation provided to him was that we all tried to be quiet when he was doing kumite, so he could better hear his opponent's movements.
I have known some very nice people in my life. I do not think it is purely coincidental that many of them are karate instructors and students. The way some people share with others can be very inspirational.
There are some people who have trained for decades without testing for higher rank, yet have continued to advance their skills and understanding at such a rate that they are of greater ability than most of those who are several ranks higher. If you only look at tournament achievements, rank and position in an organization, you may overlook some really talented karateka. And if you look around at your dojo/organization and get to know these people, you may find that there are quite a few inspirational people out there.
Who impresses you in your karate world?
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Wednesday, December 1, 2004
Monday, November 1, 2004
Back to Basics
For those who have been involved in karate for more than a few years, we know that there are some things we do in training that are not necessarily ideal for replicating in a self-defense situation, or tournaments, for that matter. In fact, some things we do can actually be considered counter-productive.
So why do instructors of Shotokan place so much emphasis on keeping the heel down, holding in position during lower stances than are practical, or practicing kata application that deal with unrealistic attacks?
In my opinion, there are several possible explanations for the adherence to basics beyond what seems practical, some with more validity than others:
These are simply training tools.
By training ourselves to adhere to strict basics, such as the idea of keeping the heels down practically all the time or returning to the starting mark in kata, we can be sure that everyone is not making large errors. While it is understood by at least the more advanced instructors and practitioners that deviations can be advantageous, minimum standards should be maintained. See below for related point of preparing for related techniques, etc. Related articles include September2000 and May 2001.
We are training for extreme situations, to prepare for anything. While very long and low stances may seem impractical, preparing for the unexpected has its value. We train placing the weight/torso as far front as possible in front-stance and as far back as possible in back-stance. We are training to be able to operate anywhere within that large range. Although practical application may not involve either extreme, we should be ready, just in case.
Preparation for related movements/techniques/strategies.
Training with what I often refer to as “extreme basics”, the range of motion is very large. While in a self-defense or free-sparring situation, this may be impractical (try, for example, the full preparatory move for soto-uke/outside-block while someone is trying to punch you from close range), this is actually preparing the person for realistic technique (if they have the right frame of mind, at least). Although we tend to “do what we practice” when caught unprepared, the movements become smaller instinctively. If we practice very large moves, we should expect that these techniques would become smaller in a realistic encounter. If we started with only small movements from the beginning, application under stress may cause a further reduction in range-of-motion, which may mean it is too small to be effective. Also see article from September2000 regarding practice of related techniques.
Tradition. Instructors simply teach what they were taught.
Sadly enough, this is the reason that many, if not most, instructors teach this way. They teach what they learned, how they learned it, feeling that what worked for them should work for others.
There are many valid reasons to practice basics that may seem impractical on the surface. There are many reasons why one would want to practice other than these “extreme basics” as well. But I advocate sticking to just the basics until the points are clearly understood and achievable. After that, I believe one should still practice the basics that may appear to be unrealistic, also adding variations (when amongst other advanced practitioners, as not to confuse the less experienced), but keeping in mind that there can be great value in both types of training.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
So why do instructors of Shotokan place so much emphasis on keeping the heel down, holding in position during lower stances than are practical, or practicing kata application that deal with unrealistic attacks?
In my opinion, there are several possible explanations for the adherence to basics beyond what seems practical, some with more validity than others:
These are simply training tools.
By training ourselves to adhere to strict basics, such as the idea of keeping the heels down practically all the time or returning to the starting mark in kata, we can be sure that everyone is not making large errors. While it is understood by at least the more advanced instructors and practitioners that deviations can be advantageous, minimum standards should be maintained. See below for related point of preparing for related techniques, etc. Related articles include September2000 and May 2001.
We are training for extreme situations, to prepare for anything. While very long and low stances may seem impractical, preparing for the unexpected has its value. We train placing the weight/torso as far front as possible in front-stance and as far back as possible in back-stance. We are training to be able to operate anywhere within that large range. Although practical application may not involve either extreme, we should be ready, just in case.
Preparation for related movements/techniques/strategies.
Training with what I often refer to as “extreme basics”, the range of motion is very large. While in a self-defense or free-sparring situation, this may be impractical (try, for example, the full preparatory move for soto-uke/outside-block while someone is trying to punch you from close range), this is actually preparing the person for realistic technique (if they have the right frame of mind, at least). Although we tend to “do what we practice” when caught unprepared, the movements become smaller instinctively. If we practice very large moves, we should expect that these techniques would become smaller in a realistic encounter. If we started with only small movements from the beginning, application under stress may cause a further reduction in range-of-motion, which may mean it is too small to be effective. Also see article from September2000 regarding practice of related techniques.
Tradition. Instructors simply teach what they were taught.
Sadly enough, this is the reason that many, if not most, instructors teach this way. They teach what they learned, how they learned it, feeling that what worked for them should work for others.
There are many valid reasons to practice basics that may seem impractical on the surface. There are many reasons why one would want to practice other than these “extreme basics” as well. But I advocate sticking to just the basics until the points are clearly understood and achievable. After that, I believe one should still practice the basics that may appear to be unrealistic, also adding variations (when amongst other advanced practitioners, as not to confuse the less experienced), but keeping in mind that there can be great value in both types of training.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Back to Basics
For those who have been involved in karate for more than a few years, we know that there are some things we do in training that are not necessarily ideal for replicating in a self-defense situation, or tournaments, for that matter. In fact, some things we do can actually be considered counter-productive.
So why do instructors of Shotokan place so much emphasis on keeping the heel down, holding in position during lower stances than are practical, or practicing kata application that deal with unrealistic attacks?
In my opinion, there are several possible explanations for the adherence to basics beyond what seems practical, some with more validity than others:
These are simply training tools.
By training ourselves to adhere to strict basics, such as the idea of keeping the heels down practically all the time or returning to the starting mark in kata, we can be sure that everyone is not making large errors. While it is understood by at least the more advanced instructors and practitioners that deviations can be advantageous, minimum standards should be maintained. See below for related point of preparing for related techniques, etc. Related articles include September2000 and May 2001.
We are training for extreme situations, to prepare for anything. While very long and low stances may seem impractical, preparing for the unexpected has its value. We train placing the weight/torso as far front as possible in front-stance and as far back as possible in back-stance. We are training to be able to operate anywhere within that large range. Although practical application may not involve either extreme, we should be ready, just in case.
Preparation for related movements/techniques/strategies.
Training with what I often refer to as “extreme basics”, the range of motion is very large. While in a self-defense or free-sparring situation, this may be impractical (try, for example, the full preparatory move for soto-uke/outside-block while someone is trying to punch you from close range), this is actually preparing the person for realistic technique (if they have the right frame of mind, at least). Although we tend to “do what we practice” when caught unprepared, the movements become smaller instinctively. If we practice very large moves, we should expect that these techniques would become smaller in a realistic encounter. If we started with only small movements from the beginning, application under stress may cause a further reduction in range-of-motion, which may mean it is too small to be effective. Also see article from September2000 regarding practice of related techniques.
Tradition. Instructors simply teach what they were taught.
Sadly enough, this is the reason that many, if not most, instructors teach this way. They teach what they learned, how they learned it, feeling that what worked for them should work for others.
There are many valid reasons to practice basics that may seem impractical on the surface. There are many reasons why one would want to practice other than these “extreme basics” as well. But I advocate sticking to just the basics until the points are clearly understood and achievable. After that, I believe one should still practice the basics that may appear to be unrealistic, also adding variations (when amongst other advanced practitioners, as not to confuse the less experienced), but keeping in mind that there can be great value in both types of training.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
So why do instructors of Shotokan place so much emphasis on keeping the heel down, holding in position during lower stances than are practical, or practicing kata application that deal with unrealistic attacks?
In my opinion, there are several possible explanations for the adherence to basics beyond what seems practical, some with more validity than others:
These are simply training tools.
By training ourselves to adhere to strict basics, such as the idea of keeping the heels down practically all the time or returning to the starting mark in kata, we can be sure that everyone is not making large errors. While it is understood by at least the more advanced instructors and practitioners that deviations can be advantageous, minimum standards should be maintained. See below for related point of preparing for related techniques, etc. Related articles include September2000 and May 2001.
We are training for extreme situations, to prepare for anything. While very long and low stances may seem impractical, preparing for the unexpected has its value. We train placing the weight/torso as far front as possible in front-stance and as far back as possible in back-stance. We are training to be able to operate anywhere within that large range. Although practical application may not involve either extreme, we should be ready, just in case.
Preparation for related movements/techniques/strategies.
Training with what I often refer to as “extreme basics”, the range of motion is very large. While in a self-defense or free-sparring situation, this may be impractical (try, for example, the full preparatory move for soto-uke/outside-block while someone is trying to punch you from close range), this is actually preparing the person for realistic technique (if they have the right frame of mind, at least). Although we tend to “do what we practice” when caught unprepared, the movements become smaller instinctively. If we practice very large moves, we should expect that these techniques would become smaller in a realistic encounter. If we started with only small movements from the beginning, application under stress may cause a further reduction in range-of-motion, which may mean it is too small to be effective. Also see article from September2000 regarding practice of related techniques.
Tradition. Instructors simply teach what they were taught.
Sadly enough, this is the reason that many, if not most, instructors teach this way. They teach what they learned, how they learned it, feeling that what worked for them should work for others.
There are many valid reasons to practice basics that may seem impractical on the surface. There are many reasons why one would want to practice other than these “extreme basics” as well. But I advocate sticking to just the basics until the points are clearly understood and achievable. After that, I believe one should still practice the basics that may appear to be unrealistic, also adding variations (when amongst other advanced practitioners, as not to confuse the less experienced), but keeping in mind that there can be great value in both types of training.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Back to Basics
For those who have been involved in karate for more than a few years, we know that there are some things we do in training that are not necessarily ideal for replicating in a self-defense situation, or tournaments, for that matter. In fact, some things we do can actually be considered counter-productive.
So why do instructors of Shotokan place so much emphasis on keeping the heel down, holding in position during lower stances than are practical, or practicing kata application that deal with unrealistic attacks?
In my opinion, there are several possible explanations for the adherence to basics beyond what seems practical, some with more validity than others:
These are simply training tools.
By training ourselves to adhere to strict basics, such as the idea of keeping the heels down practically all the time or returning to the starting mark in kata, we can be sure that everyone is not making large errors. While it is understood by at least the more advanced instructors and practitioners that deviations can be advantageous, minimum standards should be maintained. See below for related point of preparing for related techniques, etc. Related articles include September2000 and May 2001.
We are training for extreme situations, to prepare for anything. While very long and low stances may seem impractical, preparing for the unexpected has its value. We train placing the weight/torso as far front as possible in front-stance and as far back as possible in back-stance. We are training to be able to operate anywhere within that large range. Although practical application may not involve either extreme, we should be ready, just in case.
Preparation for related movements/techniques/strategies.
Training with what I often refer to as “extreme basics”, the range of motion is very large. While in a self-defense or free-sparring situation, this may be impractical (try, for example, the full preparatory move for soto-uke/outside-block while someone is trying to punch you from close range), this is actually preparing the person for realistic technique (if they have the right frame of mind, at least). Although we tend to “do what we practice” when caught unprepared, the movements become smaller instinctively. If we practice very large moves, we should expect that these techniques would become smaller in a realistic encounter. If we started with only small movements from the beginning, application under stress may cause a further reduction in range-of-motion, which may mean it is too small to be effective. Also see article from September2000 regarding practice of related techniques.
Tradition. Instructors simply teach what they were taught.
Sadly enough, this is the reason that many, if not most, instructors teach this way. They teach what they learned, how they learned it, feeling that what worked for them should work for others.
There are many valid reasons to practice basics that may seem impractical on the surface. There are many reasons why one would want to practice other than these “extreme basics” as well. But I advocate sticking to just the basics until the points are clearly understood and achievable. After that, I believe one should still practice the basics that may appear to be unrealistic, also adding variations (when amongst other advanced practitioners, as not to confuse the less experienced), but keeping in mind that there can be great value in both types of training.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
So why do instructors of Shotokan place so much emphasis on keeping the heel down, holding in position during lower stances than are practical, or practicing kata application that deal with unrealistic attacks?
In my opinion, there are several possible explanations for the adherence to basics beyond what seems practical, some with more validity than others:
These are simply training tools.
By training ourselves to adhere to strict basics, such as the idea of keeping the heels down practically all the time or returning to the starting mark in kata, we can be sure that everyone is not making large errors. While it is understood by at least the more advanced instructors and practitioners that deviations can be advantageous, minimum standards should be maintained. See below for related point of preparing for related techniques, etc. Related articles include September2000 and May 2001.
We are training for extreme situations, to prepare for anything. While very long and low stances may seem impractical, preparing for the unexpected has its value. We train placing the weight/torso as far front as possible in front-stance and as far back as possible in back-stance. We are training to be able to operate anywhere within that large range. Although practical application may not involve either extreme, we should be ready, just in case.
Preparation for related movements/techniques/strategies.
Training with what I often refer to as “extreme basics”, the range of motion is very large. While in a self-defense or free-sparring situation, this may be impractical (try, for example, the full preparatory move for soto-uke/outside-block while someone is trying to punch you from close range), this is actually preparing the person for realistic technique (if they have the right frame of mind, at least). Although we tend to “do what we practice” when caught unprepared, the movements become smaller instinctively. If we practice very large moves, we should expect that these techniques would become smaller in a realistic encounter. If we started with only small movements from the beginning, application under stress may cause a further reduction in range-of-motion, which may mean it is too small to be effective. Also see article from September2000 regarding practice of related techniques.
Tradition. Instructors simply teach what they were taught.
Sadly enough, this is the reason that many, if not most, instructors teach this way. They teach what they learned, how they learned it, feeling that what worked for them should work for others.
There are many valid reasons to practice basics that may seem impractical on the surface. There are many reasons why one would want to practice other than these “extreme basics” as well. But I advocate sticking to just the basics until the points are clearly understood and achievable. After that, I believe one should still practice the basics that may appear to be unrealistic, also adding variations (when amongst other advanced practitioners, as not to confuse the less experienced), but keeping in mind that there can be great value in both types of training.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Back to Basics
For those who have been involved in karate for more than a few years, we know that there are some things we do in training that are not necessarily ideal for replicating in a self-defense situation, or tournaments, for that matter. In fact, some things we do can actually be considered counter-productive.
So why do instructors of Shotokan place so much emphasis on keeping the heel down, holding in position during lower stances than are practical, or practicing kata application that deal with unrealistic attacks?
In my opinion, there are several possible explanations for the adherence to basics beyond what seems practical, some with more validity than others:
These are simply training tools.
By training ourselves to adhere to strict basics, such as the idea of keeping the heels down practically all the time or returning to the starting mark in kata, we can be sure that everyone is not making large errors. While it is understood by at least the more advanced instructors and practitioners that deviations can be advantageous, minimum standards should be maintained. See below for related point of preparing for related techniques, etc. Related articles include September2000 and May 2001.
We are training for extreme situations, to prepare for anything. While very long and low stances may seem impractical, preparing for the unexpected has its value. We train placing the weight/torso as far front as possible in front-stance and as far back as possible in back-stance. We are training to be able to operate anywhere within that large range. Although practical application may not involve either extreme, we should be ready, just in case.
Preparation for related movements/techniques/strategies.
Training with what I often refer to as “extreme basics”, the range of motion is very large. While in a self-defense or free-sparring situation, this may be impractical (try, for example, the full preparatory move for soto-uke/outside-block while someone is trying to punch you from close range), this is actually preparing the person for realistic technique (if they have the right frame of mind, at least). Although we tend to “do what we practice” when caught unprepared, the movements become smaller instinctively. If we practice very large moves, we should expect that these techniques would become smaller in a realistic encounter. If we started with only small movements from the beginning, application under stress may cause a further reduction in range-of-motion, which may mean it is too small to be effective. Also see article from September2000 regarding practice of related techniques.
Tradition. Instructors simply teach what they were taught.
Sadly enough, this is the reason that many, if not most, instructors teach this way. They teach what they learned, how they learned it, feeling that what worked for them should work for others.
There are many valid reasons to practice basics that may seem impractical on the surface. There are many reasons why one would want to practice other than these “extreme basics” as well. But I advocate sticking to just the basics until the points are clearly understood and achievable. After that, I believe one should still practice the basics that may appear to be unrealistic, also adding variations (when amongst other advanced practitioners, as not to confuse the less experienced), but keeping in mind that there can be great value in both types of training.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
So why do instructors of Shotokan place so much emphasis on keeping the heel down, holding in position during lower stances than are practical, or practicing kata application that deal with unrealistic attacks?
In my opinion, there are several possible explanations for the adherence to basics beyond what seems practical, some with more validity than others:
These are simply training tools.
By training ourselves to adhere to strict basics, such as the idea of keeping the heels down practically all the time or returning to the starting mark in kata, we can be sure that everyone is not making large errors. While it is understood by at least the more advanced instructors and practitioners that deviations can be advantageous, minimum standards should be maintained. See below for related point of preparing for related techniques, etc. Related articles include September2000 and May 2001.
We are training for extreme situations, to prepare for anything. While very long and low stances may seem impractical, preparing for the unexpected has its value. We train placing the weight/torso as far front as possible in front-stance and as far back as possible in back-stance. We are training to be able to operate anywhere within that large range. Although practical application may not involve either extreme, we should be ready, just in case.
Preparation for related movements/techniques/strategies.
Training with what I often refer to as “extreme basics”, the range of motion is very large. While in a self-defense or free-sparring situation, this may be impractical (try, for example, the full preparatory move for soto-uke/outside-block while someone is trying to punch you from close range), this is actually preparing the person for realistic technique (if they have the right frame of mind, at least). Although we tend to “do what we practice” when caught unprepared, the movements become smaller instinctively. If we practice very large moves, we should expect that these techniques would become smaller in a realistic encounter. If we started with only small movements from the beginning, application under stress may cause a further reduction in range-of-motion, which may mean it is too small to be effective. Also see article from September2000 regarding practice of related techniques.
Tradition. Instructors simply teach what they were taught.
Sadly enough, this is the reason that many, if not most, instructors teach this way. They teach what they learned, how they learned it, feeling that what worked for them should work for others.
There are many valid reasons to practice basics that may seem impractical on the surface. There are many reasons why one would want to practice other than these “extreme basics” as well. But I advocate sticking to just the basics until the points are clearly understood and achievable. After that, I believe one should still practice the basics that may appear to be unrealistic, also adding variations (when amongst other advanced practitioners, as not to confuse the less experienced), but keeping in mind that there can be great value in both types of training.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Saturday, October 2, 2004
Forget About It
In classes that I teach, I usually inform students multiple times what the point(s) of the training is/are. For my day-job, I often make presentations to clients and prospective clients. In my business, there is a saying concerning making presentations: "Tell them what you are going to tell them. Then tell them. Then tell them what you told them." I also often explain how a given exercise is related to skills and techniques other than what they are practicing specifically at that moment. But sometimes the point of an exercise may not be what they think it is.
Sometimes what the instructor is trying to get the students to do better is something other than what the students are focusing on. By this, I mean that an instructor may devise a drill that causes the students to focus so much of their energy and/or consciousness on one thing that they end up forgetting about what the instructor is actually trying to make them do better.
I know of many instructors who do not think much at all about how they teach (although they may often do put a lot of thought into what to teach). Some of them still turn out some reasonable students. I know of other instructors who have a definite plan of what they want their students to accomplish, but never attmept to inform the students of any part of their plan. In my opinion, a student who knows his objectives can probably work more effectively toward achieving them. Furthermore, if a student is informed of the relationships between exercises and what related techniques and movements can also benefit from those exercises, this can help the students' progress significantly in various areas. Perhaps not all simultaneously, but eventually this could have profound impact on a student's overall development. This being said, there are times an instructor may choose to not explain to students exactly what the point is of a particular training drill, or to explain part of the training that is not necessarily the real intent of the exercise.
The way I most often use this tactic is when practicing fundamental exercises such as stance training. Just sitting in a stance for a minute at a time is quite boring and tiring and seems to accomplish very little in the minds of many students who would rather be practicing their punching and kicking. If the instructor has students perform numerous punches in place, the student may be delighted to be practicing so much punching. Meanwhile, the instructor's intent may be to strengthen the students' stance and build up the muscle memory of the lower body related to that stance.
Here is an example instructors may want to try:
• Assume kokutsudachi (back stance)
• Review the stance configuration, to make sure all the students are doing it correctly.
• Explain the exercise- When the count is "one," perform one repetition of shutouke (knife-hand block); when the count is "two," perform two, and so on....
• Repeat for the other side.
• Count from one to ten or from ten to one.
That is a total of 55 repetitions on each side. Including the explanation and slight pauses between counts, that should probably take about 1.5 minutes. During that time, everyone should have stayed in the same stance. Since the stance was checked at the outset of the drill, unless something happened during the exercise, they most likely built up some good muscle memory in the lower body. But the students have been concentrating on their arms, which by the end are quite tired. And now you can continue on with other back stance exercises or switch to another stance with another technique. The students did not need to know that the point of the exercise was to build up good muscle memory in the lower body. If they had been informed of that goal before the exercise, they might have been less successful in achieving it.
Note that this is not quite the same as the idea of training without thinking, just for the sake of training (for more on this, see article from December 2003). While the students may not be consciously thinking about what is being trained, the instructor has a goal toward which the students simply may not be fully aware they are working.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Sometimes what the instructor is trying to get the students to do better is something other than what the students are focusing on. By this, I mean that an instructor may devise a drill that causes the students to focus so much of their energy and/or consciousness on one thing that they end up forgetting about what the instructor is actually trying to make them do better.
I know of many instructors who do not think much at all about how they teach (although they may often do put a lot of thought into what to teach). Some of them still turn out some reasonable students. I know of other instructors who have a definite plan of what they want their students to accomplish, but never attmept to inform the students of any part of their plan. In my opinion, a student who knows his objectives can probably work more effectively toward achieving them. Furthermore, if a student is informed of the relationships between exercises and what related techniques and movements can also benefit from those exercises, this can help the students' progress significantly in various areas. Perhaps not all simultaneously, but eventually this could have profound impact on a student's overall development. This being said, there are times an instructor may choose to not explain to students exactly what the point is of a particular training drill, or to explain part of the training that is not necessarily the real intent of the exercise.
The way I most often use this tactic is when practicing fundamental exercises such as stance training. Just sitting in a stance for a minute at a time is quite boring and tiring and seems to accomplish very little in the minds of many students who would rather be practicing their punching and kicking. If the instructor has students perform numerous punches in place, the student may be delighted to be practicing so much punching. Meanwhile, the instructor's intent may be to strengthen the students' stance and build up the muscle memory of the lower body related to that stance.
Here is an example instructors may want to try:
• Assume kokutsudachi (back stance)
• Review the stance configuration, to make sure all the students are doing it correctly.
• Explain the exercise- When the count is "one," perform one repetition of shutouke (knife-hand block); when the count is "two," perform two, and so on....
• Repeat for the other side.
• Count from one to ten or from ten to one.
That is a total of 55 repetitions on each side. Including the explanation and slight pauses between counts, that should probably take about 1.5 minutes. During that time, everyone should have stayed in the same stance. Since the stance was checked at the outset of the drill, unless something happened during the exercise, they most likely built up some good muscle memory in the lower body. But the students have been concentrating on their arms, which by the end are quite tired. And now you can continue on with other back stance exercises or switch to another stance with another technique. The students did not need to know that the point of the exercise was to build up good muscle memory in the lower body. If they had been informed of that goal before the exercise, they might have been less successful in achieving it.
Note that this is not quite the same as the idea of training without thinking, just for the sake of training (for more on this, see article from December 2003). While the students may not be consciously thinking about what is being trained, the instructor has a goal toward which the students simply may not be fully aware they are working.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Forget About It
In classes that I teach, I usually inform students multiple times what the point(s) of the training is/are. For my day-job, I often make presentations to clients and prospective clients. In my business, there is a saying concerning making presentations: "Tell them what you are going to tell them. Then tell them. Then tell them what you told them." I also often explain how a given exercise is related to skills and techniques other than what they are practicing specifically at that moment. But sometimes the point of an exercise may not be what they think it is.
Sometimes what the instructor is trying to get the students to do better is something other than what the students are focusing on. By this, I mean that an instructor may devise a drill that causes the students to focus so much of their energy and/or consciousness on one thing that they end up forgetting about what the instructor is actually trying to make them do better.
I know of many instructors who do not think much at all about how they teach (although they may often do put a lot of thought into what to teach). Some of them still turn out some reasonable students. I know of other instructors who have a definite plan of what they want their students to accomplish, but never attmept to inform the students of any part of their plan. In my opinion, a student who knows his objectives can probably work more effectively toward achieving them. Furthermore, if a student is informed of the relationships between exercises and what related techniques and movements can also benefit from those exercises, this can help the students' progress significantly in various areas. Perhaps not all simultaneously, but eventually this could have profound impact on a student's overall development. This being said, there are times an instructor may choose to not explain to students exactly what the point is of a particular training drill, or to explain part of the training that is not necessarily the real intent of the exercise.
The way I most often use this tactic is when practicing fundamental exercises such as stance training. Just sitting in a stance for a minute at a time is quite boring and tiring and seems to accomplish very little in the minds of many students who would rather be practicing their punching and kicking. If the instructor has students perform numerous punches in place, the student may be delighted to be practicing so much punching. Meanwhile, the instructor's intent may be to strengthen the students' stance and build up the muscle memory of the lower body related to that stance.
Here is an example instructors may want to try:
• Assume kokutsudachi (back stance)
• Review the stance configuration, to make sure all the students are doing it correctly.
• Explain the exercise- When the count is "one," perform one repetition of shutouke (knife-hand block); when the count is "two," perform two, and so on....
• Repeat for the other side.
• Count from one to ten or from ten to one.
That is a total of 55 repetitions on each side. Including the explanation and slight pauses between counts, that should probably take about 1.5 minutes. During that time, everyone should have stayed in the same stance. Since the stance was checked at the outset of the drill, unless something happened during the exercise, they most likely built up some good muscle memory in the lower body. But the students have been concentrating on their arms, which by the end are quite tired. And now you can continue on with other back stance exercises or switch to another stance with another technique. The students did not need to know that the point of the exercise was to build up good muscle memory in the lower body. If they had been informed of that goal before the exercise, they might have been less successful in achieving it.
Note that this is not quite the same as the idea of training without thinking, just for the sake of training (for more on this, see article from December 2003). While the students may not be consciously thinking about what is being trained, the instructor has a goal toward which the students simply may not be fully aware they are working.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Sometimes what the instructor is trying to get the students to do better is something other than what the students are focusing on. By this, I mean that an instructor may devise a drill that causes the students to focus so much of their energy and/or consciousness on one thing that they end up forgetting about what the instructor is actually trying to make them do better.
I know of many instructors who do not think much at all about how they teach (although they may often do put a lot of thought into what to teach). Some of them still turn out some reasonable students. I know of other instructors who have a definite plan of what they want their students to accomplish, but never attmept to inform the students of any part of their plan. In my opinion, a student who knows his objectives can probably work more effectively toward achieving them. Furthermore, if a student is informed of the relationships between exercises and what related techniques and movements can also benefit from those exercises, this can help the students' progress significantly in various areas. Perhaps not all simultaneously, but eventually this could have profound impact on a student's overall development. This being said, there are times an instructor may choose to not explain to students exactly what the point is of a particular training drill, or to explain part of the training that is not necessarily the real intent of the exercise.
The way I most often use this tactic is when practicing fundamental exercises such as stance training. Just sitting in a stance for a minute at a time is quite boring and tiring and seems to accomplish very little in the minds of many students who would rather be practicing their punching and kicking. If the instructor has students perform numerous punches in place, the student may be delighted to be practicing so much punching. Meanwhile, the instructor's intent may be to strengthen the students' stance and build up the muscle memory of the lower body related to that stance.
Here is an example instructors may want to try:
• Assume kokutsudachi (back stance)
• Review the stance configuration, to make sure all the students are doing it correctly.
• Explain the exercise- When the count is "one," perform one repetition of shutouke (knife-hand block); when the count is "two," perform two, and so on....
• Repeat for the other side.
• Count from one to ten or from ten to one.
That is a total of 55 repetitions on each side. Including the explanation and slight pauses between counts, that should probably take about 1.5 minutes. During that time, everyone should have stayed in the same stance. Since the stance was checked at the outset of the drill, unless something happened during the exercise, they most likely built up some good muscle memory in the lower body. But the students have been concentrating on their arms, which by the end are quite tired. And now you can continue on with other back stance exercises or switch to another stance with another technique. The students did not need to know that the point of the exercise was to build up good muscle memory in the lower body. If they had been informed of that goal before the exercise, they might have been less successful in achieving it.
Note that this is not quite the same as the idea of training without thinking, just for the sake of training (for more on this, see article from December 2003). While the students may not be consciously thinking about what is being trained, the instructor has a goal toward which the students simply may not be fully aware they are working.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Forget About It
In classes that I teach, I usually inform students multiple times what the point(s) of the training is/are. For my day-job, I often make presentations to clients and prospective clients. In my business, there is a saying concerning making presentations: "Tell them what you are going to tell them. Then tell them. Then tell them what you told them." I also often explain how a given exercise is related to skills and techniques other than what they are practicing specifically at that moment. But sometimes the point of an exercise may not be what they think it is.
Sometimes what the instructor is trying to get the students to do better is something other than what the students are focusing on. By this, I mean that an instructor may devise a drill that causes the students to focus so much of their energy and/or consciousness on one thing that they end up forgetting about what the instructor is actually trying to make them do better.
I know of many instructors who do not think much at all about how they teach (although they may often do put a lot of thought into what to teach). Some of them still turn out some reasonable students. I know of other instructors who have a definite plan of what they want their students to accomplish, but never attmept to inform the students of any part of their plan. In my opinion, a student who knows his objectives can probably work more effectively toward achieving them. Furthermore, if a student is informed of the relationships between exercises and what related techniques and movements can also benefit from those exercises, this can help the students' progress significantly in various areas. Perhaps not all simultaneously, but eventually this could have profound impact on a student's overall development. This being said, there are times an instructor may choose to not explain to students exactly what the point is of a particular training drill, or to explain part of the training that is not necessarily the real intent of the exercise.
The way I most often use this tactic is when practicing fundamental exercises such as stance training. Just sitting in a stance for a minute at a time is quite boring and tiring and seems to accomplish very little in the minds of many students who would rather be practicing their punching and kicking. If the instructor has students perform numerous punches in place, the student may be delighted to be practicing so much punching. Meanwhile, the instructor's intent may be to strengthen the students' stance and build up the muscle memory of the lower body related to that stance.
Here is an example instructors may want to try:
• Assume kokutsudachi (back stance)
• Review the stance configuration, to make sure all the students are doing it correctly.
• Explain the exercise- When the count is "one," perform one repetition of shutouke (knife-hand block); when the count is "two," perform two, and so on....
• Repeat for the other side.
• Count from one to ten or from ten to one.
That is a total of 55 repetitions on each side. Including the explanation and slight pauses between counts, that should probably take about 1.5 minutes. During that time, everyone should have stayed in the same stance. Since the stance was checked at the outset of the drill, unless something happened during the exercise, they most likely built up some good muscle memory in the lower body. But the students have been concentrating on their arms, which by the end are quite tired. And now you can continue on with other back stance exercises or switch to another stance with another technique. The students did not need to know that the point of the exercise was to build up good muscle memory in the lower body. If they had been informed of that goal before the exercise, they might have been less successful in achieving it.
Note that this is not quite the same as the idea of training without thinking, just for the sake of training (for more on this, see article from December 2003). While the students may not be consciously thinking about what is being trained, the instructor has a goal toward which the students simply may not be fully aware they are working.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Sometimes what the instructor is trying to get the students to do better is something other than what the students are focusing on. By this, I mean that an instructor may devise a drill that causes the students to focus so much of their energy and/or consciousness on one thing that they end up forgetting about what the instructor is actually trying to make them do better.
I know of many instructors who do not think much at all about how they teach (although they may often do put a lot of thought into what to teach). Some of them still turn out some reasonable students. I know of other instructors who have a definite plan of what they want their students to accomplish, but never attmept to inform the students of any part of their plan. In my opinion, a student who knows his objectives can probably work more effectively toward achieving them. Furthermore, if a student is informed of the relationships between exercises and what related techniques and movements can also benefit from those exercises, this can help the students' progress significantly in various areas. Perhaps not all simultaneously, but eventually this could have profound impact on a student's overall development. This being said, there are times an instructor may choose to not explain to students exactly what the point is of a particular training drill, or to explain part of the training that is not necessarily the real intent of the exercise.
The way I most often use this tactic is when practicing fundamental exercises such as stance training. Just sitting in a stance for a minute at a time is quite boring and tiring and seems to accomplish very little in the minds of many students who would rather be practicing their punching and kicking. If the instructor has students perform numerous punches in place, the student may be delighted to be practicing so much punching. Meanwhile, the instructor's intent may be to strengthen the students' stance and build up the muscle memory of the lower body related to that stance.
Here is an example instructors may want to try:
• Assume kokutsudachi (back stance)
• Review the stance configuration, to make sure all the students are doing it correctly.
• Explain the exercise- When the count is "one," perform one repetition of shutouke (knife-hand block); when the count is "two," perform two, and so on....
• Repeat for the other side.
• Count from one to ten or from ten to one.
That is a total of 55 repetitions on each side. Including the explanation and slight pauses between counts, that should probably take about 1.5 minutes. During that time, everyone should have stayed in the same stance. Since the stance was checked at the outset of the drill, unless something happened during the exercise, they most likely built up some good muscle memory in the lower body. But the students have been concentrating on their arms, which by the end are quite tired. And now you can continue on with other back stance exercises or switch to another stance with another technique. The students did not need to know that the point of the exercise was to build up good muscle memory in the lower body. If they had been informed of that goal before the exercise, they might have been less successful in achieving it.
Note that this is not quite the same as the idea of training without thinking, just for the sake of training (for more on this, see article from December 2003). While the students may not be consciously thinking about what is being trained, the instructor has a goal toward which the students simply may not be fully aware they are working.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Thursday, September 2, 2004
Chickens
Until quite recently, there was an interesting website devoted to Shotokan called "24fightingchickens". This article has nothing to do with that...
Chicken Head
What I refer to as "chicken head" is the tendency for the head's forward movement to precede the rest of the body when stepping or shifting forward. If you watch the way a chicken walks (or quite a few other types of birds, for that matter), you can clearly see that it uses the initial movement of its head to propel the rest of the body forward. This has much to do with the chicken's limited leg/hip mobility as well as that its arms/wings are typically not involved in the movement. With off-center counterbalances lacking as such, the forward movement must be initiated by some part of the center moving forward. And the head is the most suitable candidate for these fowl.
In much the same way as the chicken, some people appear to propel their body forward, at least to some extent, by using an initial forward movement of the head. In strict basic technique, we are often required to use limited arm movement (off-center counterbalances) and keep the hips in a fairly straightforward trajectory. As such, it is understandable that a "chicken-head" tendency may develop quite naturally.
We must, however, force ourselves to limit such movement.
Chicken Wings
Similar to "chicken head", "chicken wings" refers to the movements of the arms that some people perform while executing kicks. It can make the karate person appear to be moving like a chicken, or other type of bird.
The arms are supposed to be kept still, with the elbows back. But again for reasons often relating to lack of other suitable counterbalances, the elbow moves in an (usually unconscious) attempt to aide in the movement of other parts of the body (the kicking leg, the overall forward movement of the body).
Don't be a Chicken!
Watch yourself in a mirror, have someone else watch you, or videotape yourself. Are you looking like a chicken sometimes? While some of these movements may be fairly natural, we must train ourselves not to do these things. Why? While I can explain how it makes the movement less efficient and technique less effective, what should be very obvious to even the complete novice is that this movement can be seen quite easily. And especially considering that these movements often precede the technique itself, these "chicken movements" can give the opponent a relatively clear indication that an attack is coming their way. So don't be a chicken!
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Chicken Head
What I refer to as "chicken head" is the tendency for the head's forward movement to precede the rest of the body when stepping or shifting forward. If you watch the way a chicken walks (or quite a few other types of birds, for that matter), you can clearly see that it uses the initial movement of its head to propel the rest of the body forward. This has much to do with the chicken's limited leg/hip mobility as well as that its arms/wings are typically not involved in the movement. With off-center counterbalances lacking as such, the forward movement must be initiated by some part of the center moving forward. And the head is the most suitable candidate for these fowl.
In much the same way as the chicken, some people appear to propel their body forward, at least to some extent, by using an initial forward movement of the head. In strict basic technique, we are often required to use limited arm movement (off-center counterbalances) and keep the hips in a fairly straightforward trajectory. As such, it is understandable that a "chicken-head" tendency may develop quite naturally.
We must, however, force ourselves to limit such movement.
Chicken Wings
Similar to "chicken head", "chicken wings" refers to the movements of the arms that some people perform while executing kicks. It can make the karate person appear to be moving like a chicken, or other type of bird.
The arms are supposed to be kept still, with the elbows back. But again for reasons often relating to lack of other suitable counterbalances, the elbow moves in an (usually unconscious) attempt to aide in the movement of other parts of the body (the kicking leg, the overall forward movement of the body).
Don't be a Chicken!
Watch yourself in a mirror, have someone else watch you, or videotape yourself. Are you looking like a chicken sometimes? While some of these movements may be fairly natural, we must train ourselves not to do these things. Why? While I can explain how it makes the movement less efficient and technique less effective, what should be very obvious to even the complete novice is that this movement can be seen quite easily. And especially considering that these movements often precede the technique itself, these "chicken movements" can give the opponent a relatively clear indication that an attack is coming their way. So don't be a chicken!
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Monday, August 2, 2004
Nutrition
First of all, please note that I am not a medical professional of any sort. I have studied nutrition only as a side interest. What I know about nutrition is that I should know more! This article is meant more of a reminder of common sense, rather than an in-depth study of nutrition. This may not be much of a "Karate article". But I think this is the type of subject that everyone should be interested in and can definitely help your karate and the rest of your life as well, if you put at least a little thought into it.
The Basics
"We are what we eat." Or so the saying goes. Eat well if you want to be well. If you eat bad food, you may not be a bad person. But it is probably detrimental to some areas of your life if your diet is not good; you may get sick more often and it may have a negative impact on your mental health as well. Treat your body well. There is no real option for a trade-in on your body. You might as well make it the best it can be. Remember that the health and activity of your mind is usually aided by the health and activity of your body. There are chemical connections and psychological ones as well.
Calories
I overheard someone at my office the other day say that he thought all the fad diets really were simply about calorie-counting. We ended up in a heated debate, finally agreeing that most of the people who follow a diet specifically as a fad are probably simply counting calories or what in effect is equivalent to calorie-counting. For anyone athletically active, calorie intake may be important but not necessarily that we should be worried about every single calorie consumed. There are far more important considerations.
Sugars
There is a fairly new fad diet out there referred to as "The Chocolate Diet". This basically involves the idea of consuming lots of sugar throughout the day, such as is found in chocolate (the darker the better, in case you care). The idea is to keep one active due to the perpetual sugar-high, such that we burn off whatever we are consuming. Sugar may not be so bad for active people. But if you are not active, some of that sugar can turn to fat. There are many different types of sugars. It is quite amazing to me how many companies producing packaged food/candy seem to think that their consumers are too stupid to realize that "fructose", "high-fructose corn syrup", "corn syrup" and "glucose" are all sugar. Different types of sugars are broken down by the body different ways and at different speeds. My suggestion is to limit artificial sugar intake as much as possible. Instead, eat lots of fruit and other foods containing natural sugars. And don't fall for the "juices" that contain very little real fruit and lots of artificial sugars. Water is probably much better for you. Of course sugar intake is something to monitor very carefully if you are diabetic.
Protein
There are many ways to get protein into your diet. I am not a vegetarian. But meat is not the only source of protein. For athletes, protein is very important. If you are actively working out, you should think about how to get enough protein to sustain your activities. I usually try to consume some form of protein soon after a workout.
Fat
Fat naturally occurs in some foods. It is not necessarily bad. But, as with sugars, if we are not active, fat can build up and stay in your body longer than you want. Personally, I try to minimize fat intake.
Salt & Sodium
Salt, in moderation, is good for the body. We lose a significant amount of salt when we sweat.. But so many processed foods contain large amounts of sodium. In large amounts, it can be quite harmful. Read the labels. Both fat and salt are often considered "the cook's friends" because relying on them is an easy way to add flavor to food. We should be careful to control ourselves and not just reach for what tastes good.
Caffeine
Today in my office, someone had written a quote on the white-board, taken from a movie about salespeople (I am in a sales position): "COFFE IS ONLY FOR CLOSERS" (meaning, you don't deserve to be drinking anything but water if you aren't closing deals and making sales). I erased the "C" in "CLOSERS" to be funny. Caffeine is unnecessary. It has some short-term benefits, as does sugar. But the long-term effects far outweigh the short-term benefits. I am forecasting that in 10-15 years, the coffee and/or soda business will face the same type of class-action lawsuits as the tobacco industry has been facing recently. Caffeine is addictive. It is generally not healthy. Phase it out, or at least minimize it.
Alcohol and other Recreational Drugs
I am no teetotaller. But I do not drink much. There have been many studies showing that a little wine may actually improve one's health. But drinking to excess is not only bad for your image (or is it?) but is also bad for your body. Drinking in moderation may not be such a bad thing. But don't let it become a habit and try not to let yourself lose control. Living in northern California, I know many people who have experimented with recreational drugs. I don't see the need. Get high on exercise.
Fluids
Drink lots of fluid. But try to limit to water and good quality juices. Sports drinks are not so terrible. But I recommend staying away from the mass-market brands such as Gatorade. There are much better ones out there. Please also see article on Dehydration.
Tobacco
Smoking is bad for the people doing it, as well as the people around them. And it smells bad. As with caffeine, phase it out.
Vitamins & Other Supplements
Do you need to take supplemental vitamins? It depends on your diet. If you are concerned that you may not be getting all the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in your daily diet, you may want to consider supplements. I take some vitamins almost every day, in addition to Flax Seed Oil, Glucosomine, Shark Cartilage and prescription medication for my arthritis. Please consult your doctor and/or a nutritionist for more detail.
Summary
Take care of your body; it's the only one you have.
Please see the following link for some related information: http://www.eatright.org/Public/NutritionInformation/92.cfm
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
The Basics
"We are what we eat." Or so the saying goes. Eat well if you want to be well. If you eat bad food, you may not be a bad person. But it is probably detrimental to some areas of your life if your diet is not good; you may get sick more often and it may have a negative impact on your mental health as well. Treat your body well. There is no real option for a trade-in on your body. You might as well make it the best it can be. Remember that the health and activity of your mind is usually aided by the health and activity of your body. There are chemical connections and psychological ones as well.
Calories
I overheard someone at my office the other day say that he thought all the fad diets really were simply about calorie-counting. We ended up in a heated debate, finally agreeing that most of the people who follow a diet specifically as a fad are probably simply counting calories or what in effect is equivalent to calorie-counting. For anyone athletically active, calorie intake may be important but not necessarily that we should be worried about every single calorie consumed. There are far more important considerations.
Sugars
There is a fairly new fad diet out there referred to as "The Chocolate Diet". This basically involves the idea of consuming lots of sugar throughout the day, such as is found in chocolate (the darker the better, in case you care). The idea is to keep one active due to the perpetual sugar-high, such that we burn off whatever we are consuming. Sugar may not be so bad for active people. But if you are not active, some of that sugar can turn to fat. There are many different types of sugars. It is quite amazing to me how many companies producing packaged food/candy seem to think that their consumers are too stupid to realize that "fructose", "high-fructose corn syrup", "corn syrup" and "glucose" are all sugar. Different types of sugars are broken down by the body different ways and at different speeds. My suggestion is to limit artificial sugar intake as much as possible. Instead, eat lots of fruit and other foods containing natural sugars. And don't fall for the "juices" that contain very little real fruit and lots of artificial sugars. Water is probably much better for you. Of course sugar intake is something to monitor very carefully if you are diabetic.
Protein
There are many ways to get protein into your diet. I am not a vegetarian. But meat is not the only source of protein. For athletes, protein is very important. If you are actively working out, you should think about how to get enough protein to sustain your activities. I usually try to consume some form of protein soon after a workout.
Fat
Fat naturally occurs in some foods. It is not necessarily bad. But, as with sugars, if we are not active, fat can build up and stay in your body longer than you want. Personally, I try to minimize fat intake.
Salt & Sodium
Salt, in moderation, is good for the body. We lose a significant amount of salt when we sweat.. But so many processed foods contain large amounts of sodium. In large amounts, it can be quite harmful. Read the labels. Both fat and salt are often considered "the cook's friends" because relying on them is an easy way to add flavor to food. We should be careful to control ourselves and not just reach for what tastes good.
Caffeine
Today in my office, someone had written a quote on the white-board, taken from a movie about salespeople (I am in a sales position): "COFFE IS ONLY FOR CLOSERS" (meaning, you don't deserve to be drinking anything but water if you aren't closing deals and making sales). I erased the "C" in "CLOSERS" to be funny. Caffeine is unnecessary. It has some short-term benefits, as does sugar. But the long-term effects far outweigh the short-term benefits. I am forecasting that in 10-15 years, the coffee and/or soda business will face the same type of class-action lawsuits as the tobacco industry has been facing recently. Caffeine is addictive. It is generally not healthy. Phase it out, or at least minimize it.
Alcohol and other Recreational Drugs
I am no teetotaller. But I do not drink much. There have been many studies showing that a little wine may actually improve one's health. But drinking to excess is not only bad for your image (or is it?) but is also bad for your body. Drinking in moderation may not be such a bad thing. But don't let it become a habit and try not to let yourself lose control. Living in northern California, I know many people who have experimented with recreational drugs. I don't see the need. Get high on exercise.
Fluids
Drink lots of fluid. But try to limit to water and good quality juices. Sports drinks are not so terrible. But I recommend staying away from the mass-market brands such as Gatorade. There are much better ones out there. Please also see article on Dehydration.
Tobacco
Smoking is bad for the people doing it, as well as the people around them. And it smells bad. As with caffeine, phase it out.
Vitamins & Other Supplements
Do you need to take supplemental vitamins? It depends on your diet. If you are concerned that you may not be getting all the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in your daily diet, you may want to consider supplements. I take some vitamins almost every day, in addition to Flax Seed Oil, Glucosomine, Shark Cartilage and prescription medication for my arthritis. Please consult your doctor and/or a nutritionist for more detail.
Summary
Take care of your body; it's the only one you have.
Please see the following link for some related information: http://www.eatright.org/Public/NutritionInformation/92.cfm
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Friday, July 2, 2004
Basic Principles
One of my more senior students (assistant instructor) and I were talking the other day about his new hobby of horseback riding. He mentioned that the teacher was very impressed with how quickly he picked up on her descriptions of proper body-positioning and movements of the body. When she told the group to sit up straight, for example, he already was. When she explained how to turn, he did it as she wanted almost instinctively, conscious of his center. My student and I then discussed how there are some basic principles that carry over between various physical disciplines.
Back Straight
This is an idea that anyone doing karate or aikido recognizes as important. It is also important to people performing chayu (tea ceremony), to classical musicians, dancers and many other athletes. Keeping the back straight helps the lungs fill with air more efficiently than when the back is hunched over. It also helps the person to have better control of movements in various directions. It is important in everyday life.
"Using the Center"
Although this concept may seem a bit esoteric to some people, it is important to remain conscious of where the center of the body is (basically, the center of gravity) and move from it, as opposed to simply moving the limbs around as the primary movement motivator and having the center move as an afterthought...
Connection Through the Torso/Trunk
This is related to the above concepts of using the center while keeping the back straight. More specifically, and less esoterically, the muscles of the midsection should be developed in order to form and maintain a physical connection between upper- and lower-body.
Breathing
It is obviously necessary to breathe and we all should realize its importance. But how we do it is often not given much attention. For more on my thoughts about breathing in karate training, please see my earlier article on this subject: Breathing (March '00)
Relaxation
Some people are naturally relaxed and have a hard time contracting particular muscle groups. But more commonly, it seems many people have a hard time relaxing even when they know that is what they should do. Being able to relax on demand is a skill that often requires practice and, at least initially, conscious effort. Please see article relating to relaxation vs tension: Tension vs. Relaxation (Feb '98)
"Be the Ball"
As Chevy Chase's character implied in "Caddyshack", golfers should visualize where the ball is going, not being overly concerned with the body's active participation in the process. Visualization is an important tool for any athlete or performer.
Zanshin
The Japanese term for "awareness" may seem a little mystical to some people. But remaining conscious of what may happen following an action can be very important, depending on what you are doing. We can learn something from the actions/inactions of the likes of Homer Simpson and his lack of zanshin..."Doh!"
More...
Some other related articles I have written include:
Spinning (June '98)
Training in other martial arts (June '01)
"Mind-Body Connection" (Sep '01)
Motivation (Feb '03)
Muscle Memory (Mar '03)
The 5+ Senses(July '03)
Escalators & Elevators(Mar '04)
In Closing
I will wrap this up by reminding readers that what we learn in the dojo is sometimes transferable as a skill to be used outside the dojo as well. In the same way, we can use principles from elsewhere to help our karate development
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Back Straight
This is an idea that anyone doing karate or aikido recognizes as important. It is also important to people performing chayu (tea ceremony), to classical musicians, dancers and many other athletes. Keeping the back straight helps the lungs fill with air more efficiently than when the back is hunched over. It also helps the person to have better control of movements in various directions. It is important in everyday life.
"Using the Center"
Although this concept may seem a bit esoteric to some people, it is important to remain conscious of where the center of the body is (basically, the center of gravity) and move from it, as opposed to simply moving the limbs around as the primary movement motivator and having the center move as an afterthought...
Connection Through the Torso/Trunk
This is related to the above concepts of using the center while keeping the back straight. More specifically, and less esoterically, the muscles of the midsection should be developed in order to form and maintain a physical connection between upper- and lower-body.
Breathing
It is obviously necessary to breathe and we all should realize its importance. But how we do it is often not given much attention. For more on my thoughts about breathing in karate training, please see my earlier article on this subject: Breathing (March '00)
Relaxation
Some people are naturally relaxed and have a hard time contracting particular muscle groups. But more commonly, it seems many people have a hard time relaxing even when they know that is what they should do. Being able to relax on demand is a skill that often requires practice and, at least initially, conscious effort. Please see article relating to relaxation vs tension: Tension vs. Relaxation (Feb '98)
"Be the Ball"
As Chevy Chase's character implied in "Caddyshack", golfers should visualize where the ball is going, not being overly concerned with the body's active participation in the process. Visualization is an important tool for any athlete or performer.
Zanshin
The Japanese term for "awareness" may seem a little mystical to some people. But remaining conscious of what may happen following an action can be very important, depending on what you are doing. We can learn something from the actions/inactions of the likes of Homer Simpson and his lack of zanshin..."Doh!"
More...
Some other related articles I have written include:
Spinning (June '98)
Training in other martial arts (June '01)
"Mind-Body Connection" (Sep '01)
Motivation (Feb '03)
Muscle Memory (Mar '03)
The 5+ Senses(July '03)
Escalators & Elevators(Mar '04)
In Closing
I will wrap this up by reminding readers that what we learn in the dojo is sometimes transferable as a skill to be used outside the dojo as well. In the same way, we can use principles from elsewhere to help our karate development
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Basic Principles
One of my more senior students (assistant instructor) and I were talking the other day about his new hobby of horseback riding. He mentioned that the teacher was very impressed with how quickly he picked up on her descriptions of proper body-positioning and movements of the body. When she told the group to sit up straight, for example, he already was. When she explained how to turn, he did it as she wanted almost instinctively, conscious of his center. My student and I then discussed how there are some basic principles that carry over between various physical disciplines.
Back Straight
This is an idea that anyone doing karate or aikido recognizes as important. It is also important to people performing chayu (tea ceremony), to classical musicians, dancers and many other athletes. Keeping the back straight helps the lungs fill with air more efficiently than when the back is hunched over. It also helps the person to have better control of movements in various directions. It is important in everyday life.
"Using the Center"
Although this concept may seem a bit esoteric to some people, it is important to remain conscious of where the center of the body is (basically, the center of gravity) and move from it, as opposed to simply moving the limbs around as the primary movement motivator and having the center move as an afterthought...
Connection Through the Torso/Trunk
This is related to the above concepts of using the center while keeping the back straight. More specifically, and less esoterically, the muscles of the midsection should be developed in order to form and maintain a physical connection between upper- and lower-body.
Breathing
It is obviously necessary to breathe and we all should realize its importance. But how we do it is often not given much attention. For more on my thoughts about breathing in karate training, please see my earlier article on this subject: Breathing (March '00)
Relaxation
Some people are naturally relaxed and have a hard time contracting particular muscle groups. But more commonly, it seems many people have a hard time relaxing even when they know that is what they should do. Being able to relax on demand is a skill that often requires practice and, at least initially, conscious effort. Please see article relating to relaxation vs tension: Tension vs. Relaxation (Feb '98)
"Be the Ball"
As Chevy Chase's character implied in "Caddyshack", golfers should visualize where the ball is going, not being overly concerned with the body's active participation in the process. Visualization is an important tool for any athlete or performer.
Zanshin
The Japanese term for "awareness" may seem a little mystical to some people. But remaining conscious of what may happen following an action can be very important, depending on what you are doing. We can learn something from the actions/inactions of the likes of Homer Simpson and his lack of zanshin..."Doh!"
More...
Some other related articles I have written include:
Spinning (June '98)
Training in other martial arts (June '01)
"Mind-Body Connection" (Sep '01)
Motivation (Feb '03)
Muscle Memory (Mar '03)
The 5+ Senses(July '03)
Escalators & Elevators(Mar '04)
In Closing
I will wrap this up by reminding readers that what we learn in the dojo is sometimes transferable as a skill to be used outside the dojo as well. In the same way, we can use principles from elsewhere to help our karate development
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Back Straight
This is an idea that anyone doing karate or aikido recognizes as important. It is also important to people performing chayu (tea ceremony), to classical musicians, dancers and many other athletes. Keeping the back straight helps the lungs fill with air more efficiently than when the back is hunched over. It also helps the person to have better control of movements in various directions. It is important in everyday life.
"Using the Center"
Although this concept may seem a bit esoteric to some people, it is important to remain conscious of where the center of the body is (basically, the center of gravity) and move from it, as opposed to simply moving the limbs around as the primary movement motivator and having the center move as an afterthought...
Connection Through the Torso/Trunk
This is related to the above concepts of using the center while keeping the back straight. More specifically, and less esoterically, the muscles of the midsection should be developed in order to form and maintain a physical connection between upper- and lower-body.
Breathing
It is obviously necessary to breathe and we all should realize its importance. But how we do it is often not given much attention. For more on my thoughts about breathing in karate training, please see my earlier article on this subject: Breathing (March '00)
Relaxation
Some people are naturally relaxed and have a hard time contracting particular muscle groups. But more commonly, it seems many people have a hard time relaxing even when they know that is what they should do. Being able to relax on demand is a skill that often requires practice and, at least initially, conscious effort. Please see article relating to relaxation vs tension: Tension vs. Relaxation (Feb '98)
"Be the Ball"
As Chevy Chase's character implied in "Caddyshack", golfers should visualize where the ball is going, not being overly concerned with the body's active participation in the process. Visualization is an important tool for any athlete or performer.
Zanshin
The Japanese term for "awareness" may seem a little mystical to some people. But remaining conscious of what may happen following an action can be very important, depending on what you are doing. We can learn something from the actions/inactions of the likes of Homer Simpson and his lack of zanshin..."Doh!"
More...
Some other related articles I have written include:
Spinning (June '98)
Training in other martial arts (June '01)
"Mind-Body Connection" (Sep '01)
Motivation (Feb '03)
Muscle Memory (Mar '03)
The 5+ Senses(July '03)
Escalators & Elevators(Mar '04)
In Closing
I will wrap this up by reminding readers that what we learn in the dojo is sometimes transferable as a skill to be used outside the dojo as well. In the same way, we can use principles from elsewhere to help our karate development
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Basic Principles
One of my more senior students (assistant instructor) and I were talking the other day about his new hobby of horseback riding. He mentioned that the teacher was very impressed with how quickly he picked up on her descriptions of proper body-positioning and movements of the body. When she told the group to sit up straight, for example, he already was. When she explained how to turn, he did it as she wanted almost instinctively, conscious of his center. My student and I then discussed how there are some basic principles that carry over between various physical disciplines.
Back Straight
This is an idea that anyone doing karate or aikido recognizes as important. It is also important to people performing chayu (tea ceremony), to classical musicians, dancers and many other athletes. Keeping the back straight helps the lungs fill with air more efficiently than when the back is hunched over. It also helps the person to have better control of movements in various directions. It is important in everyday life.
"Using the Center"
Although this concept may seem a bit esoteric to some people, it is important to remain conscious of where the center of the body is (basically, the center of gravity) and move from it, as opposed to simply moving the limbs around as the primary movement motivator and having the center move as an afterthought...
Connection Through the Torso/Trunk
This is related to the above concepts of using the center while keeping the back straight. More specifically, and less esoterically, the muscles of the midsection should be developed in order to form and maintain a physical connection between upper- and lower-body.
Breathing
It is obviously necessary to breathe and we all should realize its importance. But how we do it is often not given much attention. For more on my thoughts about breathing in karate training, please see my earlier article on this subject: Breathing (March '00)
Relaxation
Some people are naturally relaxed and have a hard time contracting particular muscle groups. But more commonly, it seems many people have a hard time relaxing even when they know that is what they should do. Being able to relax on demand is a skill that often requires practice and, at least initially, conscious effort. Please see article relating to relaxation vs tension: Tension vs. Relaxation (Feb '98)
"Be the Ball"
As Chevy Chase's character implied in "Caddyshack", golfers should visualize where the ball is going, not being overly concerned with the body's active participation in the process. Visualization is an important tool for any athlete or performer.
Zanshin
The Japanese term for "awareness" may seem a little mystical to some people. But remaining conscious of what may happen following an action can be very important, depending on what you are doing. We can learn something from the actions/inactions of the likes of Homer Simpson and his lack of zanshin..."Doh!"
More...
Some other related articles I have written include:
Spinning (June '98)
Training in other martial arts (June '01)
"Mind-Body Connection" (Sep '01)
Motivation (Feb '03)
Muscle Memory (Mar '03)
The 5+ Senses(July '03)
Escalators & Elevators(Mar '04)
In Closing
I will wrap this up by reminding readers that what we learn in the dojo is sometimes transferable as a skill to be used outside the dojo as well. In the same way, we can use principles from elsewhere to help our karate development
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Back Straight
This is an idea that anyone doing karate or aikido recognizes as important. It is also important to people performing chayu (tea ceremony), to classical musicians, dancers and many other athletes. Keeping the back straight helps the lungs fill with air more efficiently than when the back is hunched over. It also helps the person to have better control of movements in various directions. It is important in everyday life.
"Using the Center"
Although this concept may seem a bit esoteric to some people, it is important to remain conscious of where the center of the body is (basically, the center of gravity) and move from it, as opposed to simply moving the limbs around as the primary movement motivator and having the center move as an afterthought...
Connection Through the Torso/Trunk
This is related to the above concepts of using the center while keeping the back straight. More specifically, and less esoterically, the muscles of the midsection should be developed in order to form and maintain a physical connection between upper- and lower-body.
Breathing
It is obviously necessary to breathe and we all should realize its importance. But how we do it is often not given much attention. For more on my thoughts about breathing in karate training, please see my earlier article on this subject: Breathing (March '00)
Relaxation
Some people are naturally relaxed and have a hard time contracting particular muscle groups. But more commonly, it seems many people have a hard time relaxing even when they know that is what they should do. Being able to relax on demand is a skill that often requires practice and, at least initially, conscious effort. Please see article relating to relaxation vs tension: Tension vs. Relaxation (Feb '98)
"Be the Ball"
As Chevy Chase's character implied in "Caddyshack", golfers should visualize where the ball is going, not being overly concerned with the body's active participation in the process. Visualization is an important tool for any athlete or performer.
Zanshin
The Japanese term for "awareness" may seem a little mystical to some people. But remaining conscious of what may happen following an action can be very important, depending on what you are doing. We can learn something from the actions/inactions of the likes of Homer Simpson and his lack of zanshin..."Doh!"
More...
Some other related articles I have written include:
Spinning (June '98)
Training in other martial arts (June '01)
"Mind-Body Connection" (Sep '01)
Motivation (Feb '03)
Muscle Memory (Mar '03)
The 5+ Senses(July '03)
Escalators & Elevators(Mar '04)
In Closing
I will wrap this up by reminding readers that what we learn in the dojo is sometimes transferable as a skill to be used outside the dojo as well. In the same way, we can use principles from elsewhere to help our karate development
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Wednesday, June 2, 2004
Dealing with Common Injuries and Ailments
Several readers have requested that I write an article about dealing with injuries common in karate training. Rather than try to write an all-encompassing article about dojo safety and first-aid, I will review here some of my thoughts based on my own personal experience. I have certification in Basic First-Aid and also CPR/Defibrillation. I would hope that others would also share an interest in being prepared to deal with at least the most common injuries and conditions that may arise as a result of karate training. Students should inform their instructor(s), as well as classmates (as needed) about any injuries, illnesses or other conditions that may require special attention. Remember that proper warm-up and stretching, as well as strengthening exercises should be an integral part of the total experience of karate practice.
Cuts & Bruises
No matter how hard instructors try to keep their classes injury-free, some minor cuts and bruises should be expected. Any cuts should be immediately washed and bandaged. Large cuts should of course not be treated lightly. Instructors should have a first-aid kit on hand and bandages should be plentiful.
Sprains & Breaks
Sprains and strains should be treated seriously. Obviously, broken bones as well. Stop training and put some ice on any sprain or black eye ASAP. Seek medical attention as soon as possible if the injury appears serious.
R.I.C.E. is very important, and easy, to remember:
R: Rest
I: Ice
C: Compression
E: Elevation
The closer to the time the injury occurred, the more important the treatment. Immediately reacting to an injury with the proper treatment can make a huge difference in recovery time. That professional athletes often get immediate professional medical attention following an injury is the primary reason that they can often get back into competition fairly quickly, sometimes the same day. RICE right away.
Dehydration
Lack of fluids can be a serious health concern. Immediate impact may be minimal. But many problems can result if proper hydration levels are not maintained. See also article on this subject from Sep, 1998. Have fluids on hand during training and remember that, in general, it is better to have too much than too little water.
Foot problems
Dry, cracking skin – A layer of tough skin on the sole of the feet is usually considered a good thing for people doing karate. But if you build up too much, the skin may start to crack. This may happen more often if you live in an arid climate. If this happens, I would suggest you file down the skin with a large file designed for such a purpose.
Plantar warts – These are small warts on the soles of the feet that often do not really cause much damage. They often go away on their own after a while. There are various remedies, ranging from applying Salicylic acid to having them surgically removed (burning them off). Believe it or not, the best way to fight these that I know of (and this has been documented by professionals in the field of podiatry) is to keep them covered with duct tape until they disappear.
Joint Problems
Most joint problems developing as a result of karate training are preventable, or at least their impact can be minimized. There are of course pre-existing and genetic conditions. But most joint problems related to karate (a large portion of these concerning the knees) are results of hyper-extension, hyper-flexion or, much more commonly, misalignment. For more on the subject of alignment, please see article from March, 1998.
Arthritis
Jarring actions can greatly impact the pain and long-term effects of arthritis. For those with this condition, running, jumping and impact training should be done only with caution. Various vitamins and supplements can help, such as flax seed oil, glucosomine and shark cartilage, as well as various prescription medications.
Dislocations
There are different types of dislocations. Some are quite easily remedied and some are not. One important fact to consider if trying to deal with a dislocated joint is that relaxing helps immensely. Regardless of whether the joint can be immediately returned to its natural position or not, professional medical attention should be sought.
There are many other possible injuries, illnesses and conditions that may develop/occur resulting from karate training. Remember the old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Be prepared and think about your training, as well as any changes in your medical condition (and, if you are an instructor, that of your students) and it should pay off.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Cuts & Bruises
No matter how hard instructors try to keep their classes injury-free, some minor cuts and bruises should be expected. Any cuts should be immediately washed and bandaged. Large cuts should of course not be treated lightly. Instructors should have a first-aid kit on hand and bandages should be plentiful.
Sprains & Breaks
Sprains and strains should be treated seriously. Obviously, broken bones as well. Stop training and put some ice on any sprain or black eye ASAP. Seek medical attention as soon as possible if the injury appears serious.
R.I.C.E. is very important, and easy, to remember:
R: Rest
I: Ice
C: Compression
E: Elevation
The closer to the time the injury occurred, the more important the treatment. Immediately reacting to an injury with the proper treatment can make a huge difference in recovery time. That professional athletes often get immediate professional medical attention following an injury is the primary reason that they can often get back into competition fairly quickly, sometimes the same day. RICE right away.
Dehydration
Lack of fluids can be a serious health concern. Immediate impact may be minimal. But many problems can result if proper hydration levels are not maintained. See also article on this subject from Sep, 1998. Have fluids on hand during training and remember that, in general, it is better to have too much than too little water.
Foot problems
Dry, cracking skin – A layer of tough skin on the sole of the feet is usually considered a good thing for people doing karate. But if you build up too much, the skin may start to crack. This may happen more often if you live in an arid climate. If this happens, I would suggest you file down the skin with a large file designed for such a purpose.
Plantar warts – These are small warts on the soles of the feet that often do not really cause much damage. They often go away on their own after a while. There are various remedies, ranging from applying Salicylic acid to having them surgically removed (burning them off). Believe it or not, the best way to fight these that I know of (and this has been documented by professionals in the field of podiatry) is to keep them covered with duct tape until they disappear.
Joint Problems
Most joint problems developing as a result of karate training are preventable, or at least their impact can be minimized. There are of course pre-existing and genetic conditions. But most joint problems related to karate (a large portion of these concerning the knees) are results of hyper-extension, hyper-flexion or, much more commonly, misalignment. For more on the subject of alignment, please see article from March, 1998.
Arthritis
Jarring actions can greatly impact the pain and long-term effects of arthritis. For those with this condition, running, jumping and impact training should be done only with caution. Various vitamins and supplements can help, such as flax seed oil, glucosomine and shark cartilage, as well as various prescription medications.
Dislocations
There are different types of dislocations. Some are quite easily remedied and some are not. One important fact to consider if trying to deal with a dislocated joint is that relaxing helps immensely. Regardless of whether the joint can be immediately returned to its natural position or not, professional medical attention should be sought.
There are many other possible injuries, illnesses and conditions that may develop/occur resulting from karate training. Remember the old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Be prepared and think about your training, as well as any changes in your medical condition (and, if you are an instructor, that of your students) and it should pay off.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Dealing with Common Injuries and Ailments
Several readers have requested that I write an article about dealing with injuries common in karate training. Rather than try to write an all-encompassing article about dojo safety and first-aid, I will review here some of my thoughts based on my own personal experience. I have certification in Basic First-Aid and also CPR/Defibrillation. I would hope that others would also share an interest in being prepared to deal with at least the most common injuries and conditions that may arise as a result of karate training. Students should inform their instructor(s), as well as classmates (as needed) about any injuries, illnesses or other conditions that may require special attention. Remember that proper warm-up and stretching, as well as strengthening exercises should be an integral part of the total experience of karate practice.
Cuts & Bruises
No matter how hard instructors try to keep their classes injury-free, some minor cuts and bruises should be expected. Any cuts should be immediately washed and bandaged. Large cuts should of course not be treated lightly. Instructors should have a first-aid kit on hand and bandages should be plentiful.
Sprains & Breaks
Sprains and strains should be treated seriously. Obviously, broken bones as well. Stop training and put some ice on any sprain or black eye ASAP. Seek medical attention as soon as possible if the injury appears serious.
R.I.C.E. is very important, and easy, to remember:
R: Rest
I: Ice
C: Compression
E: Elevation
The closer to the time the injury occurred, the more important the treatment. Immediately reacting to an injury with the proper treatment can make a huge difference in recovery time. That professional athletes often get immediate professional medical attention following an injury is the primary reason that they can often get back into competition fairly quickly, sometimes the same day. RICE right away.
Dehydration
Lack of fluids can be a serious health concern. Immediate impact may be minimal. But many problems can result if proper hydration levels are not maintained. See also article on this subject from Sep, 1998. Have fluids on hand during training and remember that, in general, it is better to have too much than too little water.
Foot problems
Dry, cracking skin – A layer of tough skin on the sole of the feet is usually considered a good thing for people doing karate. But if you build up too much, the skin may start to crack. This may happen more often if you live in an arid climate. If this happens, I would suggest you file down the skin with a large file designed for such a purpose.
Plantar warts – These are small warts on the soles of the feet that often do not really cause much damage. They often go away on their own after a while. There are various remedies, ranging from applying Salicylic acid to having them surgically removed (burning them off). Believe it or not, the best way to fight these that I know of (and this has been documented by professionals in the field of podiatry) is to keep them covered with duct tape until they disappear.
Joint Problems
Most joint problems developing as a result of karate training are preventable, or at least their impact can be minimized. There are of course pre-existing and genetic conditions. But most joint problems related to karate (a large portion of these concerning the knees) are results of hyper-extension, hyper-flexion or, much more commonly, misalignment. For more on the subject of alignment, please see article from March, 1998.
Arthritis
Jarring actions can greatly impact the pain and long-term effects of arthritis. For those with this condition, running, jumping and impact training should be done only with caution. Various vitamins and supplements can help, such as flax seed oil, glucosomine and shark cartilage, as well as various prescription medications.
Dislocations
There are different types of dislocations. Some are quite easily remedied and some are not. One important fact to consider if trying to deal with a dislocated joint is that relaxing helps immensely. Regardless of whether the joint can be immediately returned to its natural position or not, professional medical attention should be sought.
There are many other possible injuries, illnesses and conditions that may develop/occur resulting from karate training. Remember the old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Be prepared and think about your training, as well as any changes in your medical condition (and, if you are an instructor, that of your students) and it should pay off.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Cuts & Bruises
No matter how hard instructors try to keep their classes injury-free, some minor cuts and bruises should be expected. Any cuts should be immediately washed and bandaged. Large cuts should of course not be treated lightly. Instructors should have a first-aid kit on hand and bandages should be plentiful.
Sprains & Breaks
Sprains and strains should be treated seriously. Obviously, broken bones as well. Stop training and put some ice on any sprain or black eye ASAP. Seek medical attention as soon as possible if the injury appears serious.
R.I.C.E. is very important, and easy, to remember:
R: Rest
I: Ice
C: Compression
E: Elevation
The closer to the time the injury occurred, the more important the treatment. Immediately reacting to an injury with the proper treatment can make a huge difference in recovery time. That professional athletes often get immediate professional medical attention following an injury is the primary reason that they can often get back into competition fairly quickly, sometimes the same day. RICE right away.
Dehydration
Lack of fluids can be a serious health concern. Immediate impact may be minimal. But many problems can result if proper hydration levels are not maintained. See also article on this subject from Sep, 1998. Have fluids on hand during training and remember that, in general, it is better to have too much than too little water.
Foot problems
Dry, cracking skin – A layer of tough skin on the sole of the feet is usually considered a good thing for people doing karate. But if you build up too much, the skin may start to crack. This may happen more often if you live in an arid climate. If this happens, I would suggest you file down the skin with a large file designed for such a purpose.
Plantar warts – These are small warts on the soles of the feet that often do not really cause much damage. They often go away on their own after a while. There are various remedies, ranging from applying Salicylic acid to having them surgically removed (burning them off). Believe it or not, the best way to fight these that I know of (and this has been documented by professionals in the field of podiatry) is to keep them covered with duct tape until they disappear.
Joint Problems
Most joint problems developing as a result of karate training are preventable, or at least their impact can be minimized. There are of course pre-existing and genetic conditions. But most joint problems related to karate (a large portion of these concerning the knees) are results of hyper-extension, hyper-flexion or, much more commonly, misalignment. For more on the subject of alignment, please see article from March, 1998.
Arthritis
Jarring actions can greatly impact the pain and long-term effects of arthritis. For those with this condition, running, jumping and impact training should be done only with caution. Various vitamins and supplements can help, such as flax seed oil, glucosomine and shark cartilage, as well as various prescription medications.
Dislocations
There are different types of dislocations. Some are quite easily remedied and some are not. One important fact to consider if trying to deal with a dislocated joint is that relaxing helps immensely. Regardless of whether the joint can be immediately returned to its natural position or not, professional medical attention should be sought.
There are many other possible injuries, illnesses and conditions that may develop/occur resulting from karate training. Remember the old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Be prepared and think about your training, as well as any changes in your medical condition (and, if you are an instructor, that of your students) and it should pay off.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Dealing with Common Injuries and Ailments
Several readers have requested that I write an article about dealing with injuries common in karate training. Rather than try to write an all-encompassing article about dojo safety and first-aid, I will review here some of my thoughts based on my own personal experience. I have certification in Basic First-Aid and also CPR/Defibrillation. I would hope that others would also share an interest in being prepared to deal with at least the most common injuries and conditions that may arise as a result of karate training. Students should inform their instructor(s), as well as classmates (as needed) about any injuries, illnesses or other conditions that may require special attention. Remember that proper warm-up and stretching, as well as strengthening exercises should be an integral part of the total experience of karate practice.
Cuts & Bruises
No matter how hard instructors try to keep their classes injury-free, some minor cuts and bruises should be expected. Any cuts should be immediately washed and bandaged. Large cuts should of course not be treated lightly. Instructors should have a first-aid kit on hand and bandages should be plentiful.
Sprains & Breaks
Sprains and strains should be treated seriously. Obviously, broken bones as well. Stop training and put some ice on any sprain or black eye ASAP. Seek medical attention as soon as possible if the injury appears serious.
R.I.C.E. is very important, and easy, to remember:
R: Rest
I: Ice
C: Compression
E: Elevation
The closer to the time the injury occurred, the more important the treatment. Immediately reacting to an injury with the proper treatment can make a huge difference in recovery time. That professional athletes often get immediate professional medical attention following an injury is the primary reason that they can often get back into competition fairly quickly, sometimes the same day. RICE right away.
Dehydration
Lack of fluids can be a serious health concern. Immediate impact may be minimal. But many problems can result if proper hydration levels are not maintained. See also article on this subject from Sep, 1998. Have fluids on hand during training and remember that, in general, it is better to have too much than too little water.
Foot problems
Dry, cracking skin – A layer of tough skin on the sole of the feet is usually considered a good thing for people doing karate. But if you build up too much, the skin may start to crack. This may happen more often if you live in an arid climate. If this happens, I would suggest you file down the skin with a large file designed for such a purpose.
Plantar warts – These are small warts on the soles of the feet that often do not really cause much damage. They often go away on their own after a while. There are various remedies, ranging from applying Salicylic acid to having them surgically removed (burning them off). Believe it or not, the best way to fight these that I know of (and this has been documented by professionals in the field of podiatry) is to keep them covered with duct tape until they disappear.
Joint Problems
Most joint problems developing as a result of karate training are preventable, or at least their impact can be minimized. There are of course pre-existing and genetic conditions. But most joint problems related to karate (a large portion of these concerning the knees) are results of hyper-extension, hyper-flexion or, much more commonly, misalignment. For more on the subject of alignment, please see article from March, 1998.
Arthritis
Jarring actions can greatly impact the pain and long-term effects of arthritis. For those with this condition, running, jumping and impact training should be done only with caution. Various vitamins and supplements can help, such as flax seed oil, glucosomine and shark cartilage, as well as various prescription medications.
Dislocations
There are different types of dislocations. Some are quite easily remedied and some are not. One important fact to consider if trying to deal with a dislocated joint is that relaxing helps immensely. Regardless of whether the joint can be immediately returned to its natural position or not, professional medical attention should be sought.
There are many other possible injuries, illnesses and conditions that may develop/occur resulting from karate training. Remember the old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Be prepared and think about your training, as well as any changes in your medical condition (and, if you are an instructor, that of your students) and it should pay off.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Cuts & Bruises
No matter how hard instructors try to keep their classes injury-free, some minor cuts and bruises should be expected. Any cuts should be immediately washed and bandaged. Large cuts should of course not be treated lightly. Instructors should have a first-aid kit on hand and bandages should be plentiful.
Sprains & Breaks
Sprains and strains should be treated seriously. Obviously, broken bones as well. Stop training and put some ice on any sprain or black eye ASAP. Seek medical attention as soon as possible if the injury appears serious.
R.I.C.E. is very important, and easy, to remember:
R: Rest
I: Ice
C: Compression
E: Elevation
The closer to the time the injury occurred, the more important the treatment. Immediately reacting to an injury with the proper treatment can make a huge difference in recovery time. That professional athletes often get immediate professional medical attention following an injury is the primary reason that they can often get back into competition fairly quickly, sometimes the same day. RICE right away.
Dehydration
Lack of fluids can be a serious health concern. Immediate impact may be minimal. But many problems can result if proper hydration levels are not maintained. See also article on this subject from Sep, 1998. Have fluids on hand during training and remember that, in general, it is better to have too much than too little water.
Foot problems
Dry, cracking skin – A layer of tough skin on the sole of the feet is usually considered a good thing for people doing karate. But if you build up too much, the skin may start to crack. This may happen more often if you live in an arid climate. If this happens, I would suggest you file down the skin with a large file designed for such a purpose.
Plantar warts – These are small warts on the soles of the feet that often do not really cause much damage. They often go away on their own after a while. There are various remedies, ranging from applying Salicylic acid to having them surgically removed (burning them off). Believe it or not, the best way to fight these that I know of (and this has been documented by professionals in the field of podiatry) is to keep them covered with duct tape until they disappear.
Joint Problems
Most joint problems developing as a result of karate training are preventable, or at least their impact can be minimized. There are of course pre-existing and genetic conditions. But most joint problems related to karate (a large portion of these concerning the knees) are results of hyper-extension, hyper-flexion or, much more commonly, misalignment. For more on the subject of alignment, please see article from March, 1998.
Arthritis
Jarring actions can greatly impact the pain and long-term effects of arthritis. For those with this condition, running, jumping and impact training should be done only with caution. Various vitamins and supplements can help, such as flax seed oil, glucosomine and shark cartilage, as well as various prescription medications.
Dislocations
There are different types of dislocations. Some are quite easily remedied and some are not. One important fact to consider if trying to deal with a dislocated joint is that relaxing helps immensely. Regardless of whether the joint can be immediately returned to its natural position or not, professional medical attention should be sought.
There are many other possible injuries, illnesses and conditions that may develop/occur resulting from karate training. Remember the old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Be prepared and think about your training, as well as any changes in your medical condition (and, if you are an instructor, that of your students) and it should pay off.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Sunday, May 2, 2004
Japanese Terminology
Is it “cool” to use Japanese terms in the dojo? Does it make our practice seem more authentic? As with the bowing practices I mentioned in my article on that subject, there are some people who believe in discarding this part of our training traditions completely and others who feel that tradition must be maintained, even if it is impractical.
Most ballet instructors still use the French terminology for all the techniques and a few of the explanations. In music, Italian is used often to describe the flow and intensity of the music. Certain languages are used often in the field of medicine, no matter where it is being discussed. And in Japan, terminology in baseball and other sports that made their way from the West are largely English. So that karate uses Japanese for so many terms used in the dojo may not be so strange.
When “karate” made its way from China to Okinawa, before it was really known as “karate” at all, the Okinawans used some of the Chinese names for techniques and kata and then gradually changed these to local Okinawan terms. The same thing happened after karate made its way from Okinawa to mainland Japan. So why is it taking those in the West so long to adapt and rename techniques and other training terms to their own native languages?
While it is interesting to some people to study the history of their art, especially for those who do not understand the Japanese language, why do they hold onto the past in this manner?
I can speak and read Japanese. So, for me, the Japanese terminology is quite understandable. But even I do not say the Dojo Kun in Japanese at my dojo. Apart from a few of my students who have lived in Japan as well, nobody would understand. I do use some Japanese terminology for technique names. But I almost always include a description of the technique in English as well. Memorizing all the technique names in Japanese would be useful at my dojo, but it is certainly not a requirement.
I do not have a major issue with the idea that some people use the Japanese terms even though they do not often understand the actual meanings. But I do see a problem with mispronunciation and, much more so, misinterpretation. I know of many Japanese instructors who have listened to some Westerner rattle off “Japanese” that was completely incomprehensible. I have heard Japanese people laugh when they heard Westerners reciting the Dojo Kun in so-called "Japanese". But, even worse, I have seen the shivers go up their spines as they heard people use completely incorrect terminology.
Recently, for example, I heard someone describe a stance as “fudodachi” that was actually a relatively high sparring stance. If this person knew what the term meant, he would never have considered using it, even if he had heard others say it mistakenly for that stance.
The Japanese terminology can be very difficult to follow even for Japanese people. So non-Japanese karate practitioners should not feel like lesser people for not knowing the language. I remember a class that Nakayama Sensei was teaching at the JKA Honbu Dojo in Tokyo in early 1986. When Sensei rattled off a string of techniques that were unfamiliar to them, most of the Instructor Trainees and even some who had been training for 20+ years had to look for guidance to the foreigners who had been training regularly at Nakayama Sensei's private Hoitsugan Dojo. How many times have you heard the term oigeri? It is a valid term and makes sense. But it is simply not in common usage, at least among most Shotokan instructors.
Another term that is used incorrectly all over the West is sempai. Sempai means “senior” but is strictly a relative term. That means that a senior instructor should not be calling a very junior dojo member sempai unless it is obvious that the instructor is implying in an explanation to more junior students that this senior student is their senior. This can be confusing. And because it can be so confusing, I would suggest not using such terms if you do not understand the implications thoroughly. There is nothing wrong, for example, with referring to someone as “Mr. Takahashi”, “Mrs. Miller” or “Ms. Chen” (unless those are not their names!
). For more on the subject of sensei/sempai/kohai/seito relationships, please see my July 2001 article.
If you do not understand the Japanese terminology completely and are not confident that you are pronouncing and applying it correctly, my recommendation is that you do not use it. And if the others in the dojo that you are speaking with do not understand either, then it is certainly inappropriate. I think there are good reasons to keep Japanese words and terms in the dojo. But what is said should be understood. If you are the instructor, and that means getting help with pronunciation and explaining the Japanese words in your native tongue, then I suggest you do that, in order to help everyone better understand.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Most ballet instructors still use the French terminology for all the techniques and a few of the explanations. In music, Italian is used often to describe the flow and intensity of the music. Certain languages are used often in the field of medicine, no matter where it is being discussed. And in Japan, terminology in baseball and other sports that made their way from the West are largely English. So that karate uses Japanese for so many terms used in the dojo may not be so strange.
When “karate” made its way from China to Okinawa, before it was really known as “karate” at all, the Okinawans used some of the Chinese names for techniques and kata and then gradually changed these to local Okinawan terms. The same thing happened after karate made its way from Okinawa to mainland Japan. So why is it taking those in the West so long to adapt and rename techniques and other training terms to their own native languages?
While it is interesting to some people to study the history of their art, especially for those who do not understand the Japanese language, why do they hold onto the past in this manner?
I can speak and read Japanese. So, for me, the Japanese terminology is quite understandable. But even I do not say the Dojo Kun in Japanese at my dojo. Apart from a few of my students who have lived in Japan as well, nobody would understand. I do use some Japanese terminology for technique names. But I almost always include a description of the technique in English as well. Memorizing all the technique names in Japanese would be useful at my dojo, but it is certainly not a requirement.
I do not have a major issue with the idea that some people use the Japanese terms even though they do not often understand the actual meanings. But I do see a problem with mispronunciation and, much more so, misinterpretation. I know of many Japanese instructors who have listened to some Westerner rattle off “Japanese” that was completely incomprehensible. I have heard Japanese people laugh when they heard Westerners reciting the Dojo Kun in so-called "Japanese". But, even worse, I have seen the shivers go up their spines as they heard people use completely incorrect terminology.
Recently, for example, I heard someone describe a stance as “fudodachi” that was actually a relatively high sparring stance. If this person knew what the term meant, he would never have considered using it, even if he had heard others say it mistakenly for that stance.
The Japanese terminology can be very difficult to follow even for Japanese people. So non-Japanese karate practitioners should not feel like lesser people for not knowing the language. I remember a class that Nakayama Sensei was teaching at the JKA Honbu Dojo in Tokyo in early 1986. When Sensei rattled off a string of techniques that were unfamiliar to them, most of the Instructor Trainees and even some who had been training for 20+ years had to look for guidance to the foreigners who had been training regularly at Nakayama Sensei's private Hoitsugan Dojo. How many times have you heard the term oigeri? It is a valid term and makes sense. But it is simply not in common usage, at least among most Shotokan instructors.
Another term that is used incorrectly all over the West is sempai. Sempai means “senior” but is strictly a relative term. That means that a senior instructor should not be calling a very junior dojo member sempai unless it is obvious that the instructor is implying in an explanation to more junior students that this senior student is their senior. This can be confusing. And because it can be so confusing, I would suggest not using such terms if you do not understand the implications thoroughly. There is nothing wrong, for example, with referring to someone as “Mr. Takahashi”, “Mrs. Miller” or “Ms. Chen” (unless those are not their names!
). For more on the subject of sensei/sempai/kohai/seito relationships, please see my July 2001 article.If you do not understand the Japanese terminology completely and are not confident that you are pronouncing and applying it correctly, my recommendation is that you do not use it. And if the others in the dojo that you are speaking with do not understand either, then it is certainly inappropriate. I think there are good reasons to keep Japanese words and terms in the dojo. But what is said should be understood. If you are the instructor, and that means getting help with pronunciation and explaining the Japanese words in your native tongue, then I suggest you do that, in order to help everyone better understand.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Japanese Terminology
Is it “cool” to use Japanese terms in the dojo? Does it make our practice seem more authentic? As with the bowing practices I mentioned in my article on that subject, there are some people who believe in discarding this part of our training traditions completely and others who feel that tradition must be maintained, even if it is impractical.
Most ballet instructors still use the French terminology for all the techniques and a few of the explanations. In music, Italian is used often to describe the flow and intensity of the music. Certain languages are used often in the field of medicine, no matter where it is being discussed. And in Japan, terminology in baseball and other sports that made their way from the West are largely English. So that karate uses Japanese for so many terms used in the dojo may not be so strange.
When “karate” made its way from China to Okinawa, before it was really known as “karate” at all, the Okinawans used some of the Chinese names for techniques and kata and then gradually changed these to local Okinawan terms. The same thing happened after karate made its way from Okinawa to mainland Japan. So why is it taking those in the West so long to adapt and rename techniques and other training terms to their own native languages?
While it is interesting to some people to study the history of their art, especially for those who do not understand the Japanese language, why do they hold onto the past in this manner?
I can speak and read Japanese. So, for me, the Japanese terminology is quite understandable. But even I do not say the Dojo Kun in Japanese at my dojo. Apart from a few of my students who have lived in Japan as well, nobody would understand. I do use some Japanese terminology for technique names. But I almost always include a description of the technique in English as well. Memorizing all the technique names in Japanese would be useful at my dojo, but it is certainly not a requirement.
I do not have a major issue with the idea that some people use the Japanese terms even though they do not often understand the actual meanings. But I do see a problem with mispronunciation and, much more so, misinterpretation. I know of many Japanese instructors who have listened to some Westerner rattle off “Japanese” that was completely incomprehensible. I have heard Japanese people laugh when they heard Westerners reciting the Dojo Kun in so-called "Japanese". But, even worse, I have seen the shivers go up their spines as they heard people use completely incorrect terminology.
Recently, for example, I heard someone describe a stance as “fudodachi” that was actually a relatively high sparring stance. If this person knew what the term meant, he would never have considered using it, even if he had heard others say it mistakenly for that stance.
The Japanese terminology can be very difficult to follow even for Japanese people. So non-Japanese karate practitioners should not feel like lesser people for not knowing the language. I remember a class that Nakayama Sensei was teaching at the JKA Honbu Dojo in Tokyo in early 1986. When Sensei rattled off a string of techniques that were unfamiliar to them, most of the Instructor Trainees and even some who had been training for 20+ years had to look for guidance to the foreigners who had been training regularly at Nakayama Sensei's private Hoitsugan Dojo. How many times have you heard the term oigeri? It is a valid term and makes sense. But it is simply not in common usage, at least among most Shotokan instructors.
Another term that is used incorrectly all over the West is sempai. Sempai means “senior” but is strictly a relative term. That means that a senior instructor should not be calling a very junior dojo member sempai unless it is obvious that the instructor is implying in an explanation to more junior students that this senior student is their senior. This can be confusing. And because it can be so confusing, I would suggest not using such terms if you do not understand the implications thoroughly. There is nothing wrong, for example, with referring to someone as “Mr. Takahashi”, “Mrs. Miller” or “Ms. Chen” (unless those are not their names! ). For more on the subject of sensei/sempai/kohai/seito relationships, please see my July 2001 article.
If you do not understand the Japanese terminology completely and are not confident that you are pronouncing and applying it correctly, my recommendation is that you do not use it. And if the others in the dojo that you are speaking with do not understand either, then it is certainly inappropriate. I think there are good reasons to keep Japanese words and terms in the dojo. But what is said should be understood. If you are the instructor, and that means getting help with pronunciation and explaining the Japanese words in your native tongue, then I suggest you do that, in order to help everyone better understand.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Most ballet instructors still use the French terminology for all the techniques and a few of the explanations. In music, Italian is used often to describe the flow and intensity of the music. Certain languages are used often in the field of medicine, no matter where it is being discussed. And in Japan, terminology in baseball and other sports that made their way from the West are largely English. So that karate uses Japanese for so many terms used in the dojo may not be so strange.
When “karate” made its way from China to Okinawa, before it was really known as “karate” at all, the Okinawans used some of the Chinese names for techniques and kata and then gradually changed these to local Okinawan terms. The same thing happened after karate made its way from Okinawa to mainland Japan. So why is it taking those in the West so long to adapt and rename techniques and other training terms to their own native languages?
While it is interesting to some people to study the history of their art, especially for those who do not understand the Japanese language, why do they hold onto the past in this manner?
I can speak and read Japanese. So, for me, the Japanese terminology is quite understandable. But even I do not say the Dojo Kun in Japanese at my dojo. Apart from a few of my students who have lived in Japan as well, nobody would understand. I do use some Japanese terminology for technique names. But I almost always include a description of the technique in English as well. Memorizing all the technique names in Japanese would be useful at my dojo, but it is certainly not a requirement.
I do not have a major issue with the idea that some people use the Japanese terms even though they do not often understand the actual meanings. But I do see a problem with mispronunciation and, much more so, misinterpretation. I know of many Japanese instructors who have listened to some Westerner rattle off “Japanese” that was completely incomprehensible. I have heard Japanese people laugh when they heard Westerners reciting the Dojo Kun in so-called "Japanese". But, even worse, I have seen the shivers go up their spines as they heard people use completely incorrect terminology.
Recently, for example, I heard someone describe a stance as “fudodachi” that was actually a relatively high sparring stance. If this person knew what the term meant, he would never have considered using it, even if he had heard others say it mistakenly for that stance.
The Japanese terminology can be very difficult to follow even for Japanese people. So non-Japanese karate practitioners should not feel like lesser people for not knowing the language. I remember a class that Nakayama Sensei was teaching at the JKA Honbu Dojo in Tokyo in early 1986. When Sensei rattled off a string of techniques that were unfamiliar to them, most of the Instructor Trainees and even some who had been training for 20+ years had to look for guidance to the foreigners who had been training regularly at Nakayama Sensei's private Hoitsugan Dojo. How many times have you heard the term oigeri? It is a valid term and makes sense. But it is simply not in common usage, at least among most Shotokan instructors.
Another term that is used incorrectly all over the West is sempai. Sempai means “senior” but is strictly a relative term. That means that a senior instructor should not be calling a very junior dojo member sempai unless it is obvious that the instructor is implying in an explanation to more junior students that this senior student is their senior. This can be confusing. And because it can be so confusing, I would suggest not using such terms if you do not understand the implications thoroughly. There is nothing wrong, for example, with referring to someone as “Mr. Takahashi”, “Mrs. Miller” or “Ms. Chen” (unless those are not their names!
). For more on the subject of sensei/sempai/kohai/seito relationships, please see my July 2001 article.If you do not understand the Japanese terminology completely and are not confident that you are pronouncing and applying it correctly, my recommendation is that you do not use it. And if the others in the dojo that you are speaking with do not understand either, then it is certainly inappropriate. I think there are good reasons to keep Japanese words and terms in the dojo. But what is said should be understood. If you are the instructor, and that means getting help with pronunciation and explaining the Japanese words in your native tongue, then I suggest you do that, in order to help everyone better understand.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Japanese Terminology
Is it “cool” to use Japanese terms in the dojo? Does it make our practice seem more authentic? As with the bowing practices I mentioned in my article on that subject, there are some people who believe in discarding this part of our training traditions completely and others who feel that tradition must be maintained, even if it is impractical.
Most ballet instructors still use the French terminology for all the techniques and a few of the explanations. In music, Italian is used often to describe the flow and intensity of the music. Certain languages are used often in the field of medicine, no matter where it is being discussed. And in Japan, terminology in baseball and other sports that made their way from the West are largely English. So that karate uses Japanese for so many terms used in the dojo may not be so strange.
When “karate” made its way from China to Okinawa, before it was really known as “karate” at all, the Okinawans used some of the Chinese names for techniques and kata and then gradually changed these to local Okinawan terms. The same thing happened after karate made its way from Okinawa to mainland Japan. So why is it taking those in the West so long to adapt and rename techniques and other training terms to their own native languages?
While it is interesting to some people to study the history of their art, especially for those who do not understand the Japanese language, why do they hold onto the past in this manner?
I can speak and read Japanese. So, for me, the Japanese terminology is quite understandable. But even I do not say the Dojo Kun in Japanese at my dojo. Apart from a few of my students who have lived in Japan as well, nobody would understand. I do use some Japanese terminology for technique names. But I almost always include a description of the technique in English as well. Memorizing all the technique names in Japanese would be useful at my dojo, but it is certainly not a requirement.
I do not have a major issue with the idea that some people use the Japanese terms even though they do not often understand the actual meanings. But I do see a problem with mispronunciation and, much more so, misinterpretation. I know of many Japanese instructors who have listened to some Westerner rattle off “Japanese” that was completely incomprehensible. I have heard Japanese people laugh when they heard Westerners reciting the Dojo Kun in so-called "Japanese". But, even worse, I have seen the shivers go up their spines as they heard people use completely incorrect terminology.
Recently, for example, I heard someone describe a stance as “fudodachi” that was actually a relatively high sparring stance. If this person knew what the term meant, he would never have considered using it, even if he had heard others say it mistakenly for that stance.
The Japanese terminology can be very difficult to follow even for Japanese people. So non-Japanese karate practitioners should not feel like lesser people for not knowing the language. I remember a class that Nakayama Sensei was teaching at the JKA Honbu Dojo in Tokyo in early 1986. When Sensei rattled off a string of techniques that were unfamiliar to them, most of the Instructor Trainees and even some who had been training for 20+ years had to look for guidance to the foreigners who had been training regularly at Nakayama Sensei's private Hoitsugan Dojo. How many times have you heard the term oigeri? It is a valid term and makes sense. But it is simply not in common usage, at least among most Shotokan instructors.
Another term that is used incorrectly all over the West is sempai. Sempai means “senior” but is strictly a relative term. That means that a senior instructor should not be calling a very junior dojo member sempai unless it is obvious that the instructor is implying in an explanation to more junior students that this senior student is their senior. This can be confusing. And because it can be so confusing, I would suggest not using such terms if you do not understand the implications thoroughly. There is nothing wrong, for example, with referring to someone as “Mr. Takahashi”, “Mrs. Miller” or “Ms. Chen” (unless those are not their names! ). For more on the subject of sensei/sempai/kohai/seito relationships, please see my July 2001 article.
If you do not understand the Japanese terminology completely and are not confident that you are pronouncing and applying it correctly, my recommendation is that you do not use it. And if the others in the dojo that you are speaking with do not understand either, then it is certainly inappropriate. I think there are good reasons to keep Japanese words and terms in the dojo. But what is said should be understood. If you are the instructor, and that means getting help with pronunciation and explaining the Japanese words in your native tongue, then I suggest you do that, in order to help everyone better understand.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Most ballet instructors still use the French terminology for all the techniques and a few of the explanations. In music, Italian is used often to describe the flow and intensity of the music. Certain languages are used often in the field of medicine, no matter where it is being discussed. And in Japan, terminology in baseball and other sports that made their way from the West are largely English. So that karate uses Japanese for so many terms used in the dojo may not be so strange.
When “karate” made its way from China to Okinawa, before it was really known as “karate” at all, the Okinawans used some of the Chinese names for techniques and kata and then gradually changed these to local Okinawan terms. The same thing happened after karate made its way from Okinawa to mainland Japan. So why is it taking those in the West so long to adapt and rename techniques and other training terms to their own native languages?
While it is interesting to some people to study the history of their art, especially for those who do not understand the Japanese language, why do they hold onto the past in this manner?
I can speak and read Japanese. So, for me, the Japanese terminology is quite understandable. But even I do not say the Dojo Kun in Japanese at my dojo. Apart from a few of my students who have lived in Japan as well, nobody would understand. I do use some Japanese terminology for technique names. But I almost always include a description of the technique in English as well. Memorizing all the technique names in Japanese would be useful at my dojo, but it is certainly not a requirement.
I do not have a major issue with the idea that some people use the Japanese terms even though they do not often understand the actual meanings. But I do see a problem with mispronunciation and, much more so, misinterpretation. I know of many Japanese instructors who have listened to some Westerner rattle off “Japanese” that was completely incomprehensible. I have heard Japanese people laugh when they heard Westerners reciting the Dojo Kun in so-called "Japanese". But, even worse, I have seen the shivers go up their spines as they heard people use completely incorrect terminology.
Recently, for example, I heard someone describe a stance as “fudodachi” that was actually a relatively high sparring stance. If this person knew what the term meant, he would never have considered using it, even if he had heard others say it mistakenly for that stance.
The Japanese terminology can be very difficult to follow even for Japanese people. So non-Japanese karate practitioners should not feel like lesser people for not knowing the language. I remember a class that Nakayama Sensei was teaching at the JKA Honbu Dojo in Tokyo in early 1986. When Sensei rattled off a string of techniques that were unfamiliar to them, most of the Instructor Trainees and even some who had been training for 20+ years had to look for guidance to the foreigners who had been training regularly at Nakayama Sensei's private Hoitsugan Dojo. How many times have you heard the term oigeri? It is a valid term and makes sense. But it is simply not in common usage, at least among most Shotokan instructors.
Another term that is used incorrectly all over the West is sempai. Sempai means “senior” but is strictly a relative term. That means that a senior instructor should not be calling a very junior dojo member sempai unless it is obvious that the instructor is implying in an explanation to more junior students that this senior student is their senior. This can be confusing. And because it can be so confusing, I would suggest not using such terms if you do not understand the implications thoroughly. There is nothing wrong, for example, with referring to someone as “Mr. Takahashi”, “Mrs. Miller” or “Ms. Chen” (unless those are not their names!
). For more on the subject of sensei/sempai/kohai/seito relationships, please see my July 2001 article.If you do not understand the Japanese terminology completely and are not confident that you are pronouncing and applying it correctly, my recommendation is that you do not use it. And if the others in the dojo that you are speaking with do not understand either, then it is certainly inappropriate. I think there are good reasons to keep Japanese words and terms in the dojo. But what is said should be understood. If you are the instructor, and that means getting help with pronunciation and explaining the Japanese words in your native tongue, then I suggest you do that, in order to help everyone better understand.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Japanese Terminology
Is it “cool” to use Japanese terms in the dojo? Does it make our practice seem more authentic? As with the bowing practices I mentioned in my article on that subject, there are some people who believe in discarding this part of our training traditions completely and others who feel that tradition must be maintained, even if it is impractical.
Most ballet instructors still use the French terminology for all the techniques and a few of the explanations. In music, Italian is used often to describe the flow and intensity of the music. Certain languages are used often in the field of medicine, no matter where it is being discussed. And in Japan, terminology in baseball and other sports that made their way from the West are largely English. So that karate uses Japanese for so many terms used in the dojo may not be so strange.
When “karate” made its way from China to Okinawa, before it was really known as “karate” at all, the Okinawans used some of the Chinese names for techniques and kata and then gradually changed these to local Okinawan terms. The same thing happened after karate made its way from Okinawa to mainland Japan. So why is it taking those in the West so long to adapt and rename techniques and other training terms to their own native languages?
While it is interesting to some people to study the history of their art, especially for those who do not understand the Japanese language, why do they hold onto the past in this manner?
I can speak and read Japanese. So, for me, the Japanese terminology is quite understandable. But even I do not say the Dojo Kun in Japanese at my dojo. Apart from a few of my students who have lived in Japan as well, nobody would understand. I do use some Japanese terminology for technique names. But I almost always include a description of the technique in English as well. Memorizing all the technique names in Japanese would be useful at my dojo, but it is certainly not a requirement.
I do not have a major issue with the idea that some people use the Japanese terms even though they do not often understand the actual meanings. But I do see a problem with mispronunciation and, much more so, misinterpretation. I know of many Japanese instructors who have listened to some Westerner rattle off “Japanese” that was completely incomprehensible. I have heard Japanese people laugh when they heard Westerners reciting the Dojo Kun in so-called "Japanese". But, even worse, I have seen the shivers go up their spines as they heard people use completely incorrect terminology.
Recently, for example, I heard someone describe a stance as “fudodachi” that was actually a relatively high sparring stance. If this person knew what the term meant, he would never have considered using it, even if he had heard others say it mistakenly for that stance.
The Japanese terminology can be very difficult to follow even for Japanese people. So non-Japanese karate practitioners should not feel like lesser people for not knowing the language. I remember a class that Nakayama Sensei was teaching at the JKA Honbu Dojo in Tokyo in early 1986. When Sensei rattled off a string of techniques that were unfamiliar to them, most of the Instructor Trainees and even some who had been training for 20+ years had to look for guidance to the foreigners who had been training regularly at Nakayama Sensei's private Hoitsugan Dojo. How many times have you heard the term oigeri? It is a valid term and makes sense. But it is simply not in common usage, at least among most Shotokan instructors.
Another term that is used incorrectly all over the West is sempai. Sempai means “senior” but is strictly a relative term. That means that a senior instructor should not be calling a very junior dojo member sempai unless it is obvious that the instructor is implying in an explanation to more junior students that this senior student is their senior. This can be confusing. And because it can be so confusing, I would suggest not using such terms if you do not understand the implications thoroughly. There is nothing wrong, for example, with referring to someone as “Mr. Takahashi”, “Mrs. Miller” or “Ms. Chen” (unless those are not their names! ). For more on the subject of sensei/sempai/kohai/seito relationships, please see my July 2001 article.
If you do not understand the Japanese terminology completely and are not confident that you are pronouncing and applying it correctly, my recommendation is that you do not use it. And if the others in the dojo that you are speaking with do not understand either, then it is certainly inappropriate. I think there are good reasons to keep Japanese words and terms in the dojo. But what is said should be understood. If you are the instructor, and that means getting help with pronunciation and explaining the Japanese words in your native tongue, then I suggest you do that, in order to help everyone better understand.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Most ballet instructors still use the French terminology for all the techniques and a few of the explanations. In music, Italian is used often to describe the flow and intensity of the music. Certain languages are used often in the field of medicine, no matter where it is being discussed. And in Japan, terminology in baseball and other sports that made their way from the West are largely English. So that karate uses Japanese for so many terms used in the dojo may not be so strange.
When “karate” made its way from China to Okinawa, before it was really known as “karate” at all, the Okinawans used some of the Chinese names for techniques and kata and then gradually changed these to local Okinawan terms. The same thing happened after karate made its way from Okinawa to mainland Japan. So why is it taking those in the West so long to adapt and rename techniques and other training terms to their own native languages?
While it is interesting to some people to study the history of their art, especially for those who do not understand the Japanese language, why do they hold onto the past in this manner?
I can speak and read Japanese. So, for me, the Japanese terminology is quite understandable. But even I do not say the Dojo Kun in Japanese at my dojo. Apart from a few of my students who have lived in Japan as well, nobody would understand. I do use some Japanese terminology for technique names. But I almost always include a description of the technique in English as well. Memorizing all the technique names in Japanese would be useful at my dojo, but it is certainly not a requirement.
I do not have a major issue with the idea that some people use the Japanese terms even though they do not often understand the actual meanings. But I do see a problem with mispronunciation and, much more so, misinterpretation. I know of many Japanese instructors who have listened to some Westerner rattle off “Japanese” that was completely incomprehensible. I have heard Japanese people laugh when they heard Westerners reciting the Dojo Kun in so-called "Japanese". But, even worse, I have seen the shivers go up their spines as they heard people use completely incorrect terminology.
Recently, for example, I heard someone describe a stance as “fudodachi” that was actually a relatively high sparring stance. If this person knew what the term meant, he would never have considered using it, even if he had heard others say it mistakenly for that stance.
The Japanese terminology can be very difficult to follow even for Japanese people. So non-Japanese karate practitioners should not feel like lesser people for not knowing the language. I remember a class that Nakayama Sensei was teaching at the JKA Honbu Dojo in Tokyo in early 1986. When Sensei rattled off a string of techniques that were unfamiliar to them, most of the Instructor Trainees and even some who had been training for 20+ years had to look for guidance to the foreigners who had been training regularly at Nakayama Sensei's private Hoitsugan Dojo. How many times have you heard the term oigeri? It is a valid term and makes sense. But it is simply not in common usage, at least among most Shotokan instructors.
Another term that is used incorrectly all over the West is sempai. Sempai means “senior” but is strictly a relative term. That means that a senior instructor should not be calling a very junior dojo member sempai unless it is obvious that the instructor is implying in an explanation to more junior students that this senior student is their senior. This can be confusing. And because it can be so confusing, I would suggest not using such terms if you do not understand the implications thoroughly. There is nothing wrong, for example, with referring to someone as “Mr. Takahashi”, “Mrs. Miller” or “Ms. Chen” (unless those are not their names!
). For more on the subject of sensei/sempai/kohai/seito relationships, please see my July 2001 article.If you do not understand the Japanese terminology completely and are not confident that you are pronouncing and applying it correctly, my recommendation is that you do not use it. And if the others in the dojo that you are speaking with do not understand either, then it is certainly inappropriate. I think there are good reasons to keep Japanese words and terms in the dojo. But what is said should be understood. If you are the instructor, and that means getting help with pronunciation and explaining the Japanese words in your native tongue, then I suggest you do that, in order to help everyone better understand.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Thursday, April 1, 2004
"Commercial" Karate
Some dojo are located in community centers, schools and other such locations, run by people who do not depend on karate for their primary income. In contrast, some are located in rental units where the instructor(s) treat their dojo more like a business. The latter is sometimes referred to as a “commercial” dojo.
This article has nothing to do with that.
What I would like to introduce here is the concept of doing short training sessions while watching commercials on television! Personally, I watch very little TV. And when I do, I find it difficult to sit still during an entire TV program unless I am also reading or doing something else at the same time. Most of the TV I watch (outside of the news that is playing non-stop on the monitors behind me at my office) is videotaped; so I usually fast-forward through the commercials. But if you do watch TV, and you are around for the commercials, why not do a little training during those few minutes, a few times each hour?
It does not really take much effort nor time. And even a little exercise is better than none. I think the only real reason not to do a mini-workout during commercials is if it is not considered acceptable by other people in the room. Of course much of this can be done during the actual TV program as well. But I would think that at the very least, “commercial karate” should be a goal that most would be able to attain without much effort and without too many complaints from others in the room.
Here are some examples of what you might want to try:
• Stand in a stance, either changing stance at each commercial change or staying in one stance through the entire set of commercials.
• Repeat one technique continuously during a commercial, changing to another technique for the next commercial.
• Kick over the arm or back of your sofa or chair.
• Punch, strike or kick at an imaginary target, or set of targets, such as jackets hanging on the wall or a large plant on a shelf.
• Do calisthenics, such as push-ups, sit-ups, squats, etc.
• Hold a stretch for the duration of a commercial.
• Do a kata in place (without moving the feet around any more than you have space for)
I think that many people make excuses for not training much. It is understandable if you cannot make it to the dojo more than a couple of times a week due to work, family, etc. But there are plenty of opportunities for training that we may sometimes overlook. Try out “commercial karate” next time you are watching TV and see how it goes. Do you think that you are really going to miss hearing about some new-and-improved product you really didn’t want to buy anyway? Good luck.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
This article has nothing to do with that.
What I would like to introduce here is the concept of doing short training sessions while watching commercials on television! Personally, I watch very little TV. And when I do, I find it difficult to sit still during an entire TV program unless I am also reading or doing something else at the same time. Most of the TV I watch (outside of the news that is playing non-stop on the monitors behind me at my office) is videotaped; so I usually fast-forward through the commercials. But if you do watch TV, and you are around for the commercials, why not do a little training during those few minutes, a few times each hour?
It does not really take much effort nor time. And even a little exercise is better than none. I think the only real reason not to do a mini-workout during commercials is if it is not considered acceptable by other people in the room. Of course much of this can be done during the actual TV program as well. But I would think that at the very least, “commercial karate” should be a goal that most would be able to attain without much effort and without too many complaints from others in the room.
Here are some examples of what you might want to try:
• Stand in a stance, either changing stance at each commercial change or staying in one stance through the entire set of commercials.
• Repeat one technique continuously during a commercial, changing to another technique for the next commercial.
• Kick over the arm or back of your sofa or chair.
• Punch, strike or kick at an imaginary target, or set of targets, such as jackets hanging on the wall or a large plant on a shelf.
• Do calisthenics, such as push-ups, sit-ups, squats, etc.
• Hold a stretch for the duration of a commercial.
• Do a kata in place (without moving the feet around any more than you have space for)
I think that many people make excuses for not training much. It is understandable if you cannot make it to the dojo more than a couple of times a week due to work, family, etc. But there are plenty of opportunities for training that we may sometimes overlook. Try out “commercial karate” next time you are watching TV and see how it goes. Do you think that you are really going to miss hearing about some new-and-improved product you really didn’t want to buy anyway? Good luck.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
"Commercial" Karate
Some dojo are located in community centers, schools and other such locations, run by people who do not depend on karate for their primary income. In contrast, some are located in rental units where the instructor(s) treat their dojo more like a business. The latter is sometimes referred to as a “commercial” dojo.
This article has nothing to do with that.
What I would like to introduce here is the concept of doing short training sessions while watching commercials on television! Personally, I watch very little TV. And when I do, I find it difficult to sit still during an entire TV program unless I am also reading or doing something else at the same time. Most of the TV I watch (outside of the news that is playing non-stop on the monitors behind me at my office) is videotaped; so I usually fast-forward through the commercials. But if you do watch TV, and you are around for the commercials, why not do a little training during those few minutes, a few times each hour?
It does not really take much effort nor time. And even a little exercise is better than none. I think the only real reason not to do a mini-workout during commercials is if it is not considered acceptable by other people in the room. Of course much of this can be done during the actual TV program as well. But I would think that at the very least, “commercial karate” should be a goal that most would be able to attain without much effort and without too many complaints from others in the room.
Here are some examples of what you might want to try:
• Stand in a stance, either changing stance at each commercial change or staying in one stance through the entire set of commercials.
• Repeat one technique continuously during a commercial, changing to another technique for the next commercial.
• Kick over the arm or back of your sofa or chair.
• Punch, strike or kick at an imaginary target, or set of targets, such as jackets hanging on the wall or a large plant on a shelf.
• Do calisthenics, such as push-ups, sit-ups, squats, etc.
• Hold a stretch for the duration of a commercial.
• Do a kata in place (without moving the feet around any more than you have space for)
I think that many people make excuses for not training much. It is understandable if you cannot make it to the dojo more than a couple of times a week due to work, family, etc. But there are plenty of opportunities for training that we may sometimes overlook. Try out “commercial karate” next time you are watching TV and see how it goes. Do you think that you are really going to miss hearing about some new-and-improved product you really didn’t want to buy anyway? Good luck.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
This article has nothing to do with that.
What I would like to introduce here is the concept of doing short training sessions while watching commercials on television! Personally, I watch very little TV. And when I do, I find it difficult to sit still during an entire TV program unless I am also reading or doing something else at the same time. Most of the TV I watch (outside of the news that is playing non-stop on the monitors behind me at my office) is videotaped; so I usually fast-forward through the commercials. But if you do watch TV, and you are around for the commercials, why not do a little training during those few minutes, a few times each hour?
It does not really take much effort nor time. And even a little exercise is better than none. I think the only real reason not to do a mini-workout during commercials is if it is not considered acceptable by other people in the room. Of course much of this can be done during the actual TV program as well. But I would think that at the very least, “commercial karate” should be a goal that most would be able to attain without much effort and without too many complaints from others in the room.
Here are some examples of what you might want to try:
• Stand in a stance, either changing stance at each commercial change or staying in one stance through the entire set of commercials.
• Repeat one technique continuously during a commercial, changing to another technique for the next commercial.
• Kick over the arm or back of your sofa or chair.
• Punch, strike or kick at an imaginary target, or set of targets, such as jackets hanging on the wall or a large plant on a shelf.
• Do calisthenics, such as push-ups, sit-ups, squats, etc.
• Hold a stretch for the duration of a commercial.
• Do a kata in place (without moving the feet around any more than you have space for)
I think that many people make excuses for not training much. It is understandable if you cannot make it to the dojo more than a couple of times a week due to work, family, etc. But there are plenty of opportunities for training that we may sometimes overlook. Try out “commercial karate” next time you are watching TV and see how it goes. Do you think that you are really going to miss hearing about some new-and-improved product you really didn’t want to buy anyway? Good luck.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
Monday, March 1, 2004
Elevators and Escalators
I think elevators and escalator are great inventions. I ride escalators and elevators every day on my way to work. It is four stories from the subway to the ground floor and 35 flights up to my office. It would be quite time-consuming to limit myself to stairs for this trip. Just as the internet makes us more efficient, so do these other forms of technological innovation.
I am always interested in watching the people who choose to take the stairs when space on the escalator is available and also the people who seem so very happy to be able to stand and stare into space while riding the escalator. When the escalator is very crowded, sometimes I opt for the stairs and feel good to get the little bit of extra workout. But unless I have a tremendous amount of luggage, I never feel a desire to just stand for the ride. I feel that the escalator is a way to enhance the walk on the stairs, not to replace it.
I am often shocked to see people wait for 5 minutes for an elevator just to ride up or down one story when the stairs are right there. I am not, however, shocked to see that these people appear to be out of shape.
There are many karate practitioners who see parts of traditional karate training as antiquated and of limited benefit and therefore choose to discontinue those parts of their training completely. There are other people who just stand there, figuratively speaking, repeating the same traditional ways without any question.
Just as I believe we should use escalators to help us be more efficient in our walks up and down flights of stairs, I think we can improve upon tradition. But I do not think we should become lazy just because we can be.
For example, people at many dojo around the world continue to perform the warm-up and stretching routines almost exactly as they originally experienced them, without questioning the relative value of such a routine versus the alternatives. Much research in recent years has resulted in improved methods of warming up and stretching. But so many people choose to ignore this in favor of doing what is easy, even if it is not as useful and, in some cases, unhealthy and/or dangerous. The same thing goes for many techniques and training methods. Why continue to do what is tradition just for the sake of tradition? Some people repeat these traditions without any clue as to their meanings or ultimate intentions.
That being said, I am not in favor of completely severing ties to tradition. I think that most of the traditions of Karate-do are very worthwhile. Just as I walk or sprint up the escalator, I would never want to discard the old way of karate training, either. Most of what I do in my karate training and teaching is based entirely on what is done at some of the most traditional dojo in Japan.
Another way of looking at this idea of enhancing, as the escalator does for our stair-climbing experience:
I have heard people theorize that one should always drop the body lower when attacking, using the force of gravity to strengthen the technique. Many of these people seem to use this as an excuse to begin from a high stance (which may have its merits in terms of increasing mobility, but that is a subject for other articles). Gravity can be a force that we should want to use in some of our techniques. But it is a relatively weak force when compared to others that we can develop.
Simply dropping the weight and not moving forward at the same time would perhaps result in added stability. But how much would this downward movement help create a more forceful attack directed to the front? I would agree that the force of gravity can help create a more forceful attack. But I think that many people who say this do not actually fully understand the concept if they are simply dropping their weight and nothing more.
By pushing off the back leg when driving forward, without lowering the weight at all, one can create tremendous force toward the front; in many cases more than simply using gravity. But to combine the two can in some situations make for a more powerful attack than just one or the other. In this way, we can use gravity to enhance our technique (or, looking at it from the other way around, the drive off the rear leg to enhance the force of gravity).
You may choose to walk up the stairs when more automated options are available, or to stand on the escalator and use that as a time to rest. I do not think that there is anything “wrong” with either extreme. But I choose to maximize efficiency, walking up the escalator and riding the elevator if it saves time, time that I may be able to spend at the dojo working on efficient training. Keep tradition while improving upon it.
As always: Train Hard, Train Smart.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
I am always interested in watching the people who choose to take the stairs when space on the escalator is available and also the people who seem so very happy to be able to stand and stare into space while riding the escalator. When the escalator is very crowded, sometimes I opt for the stairs and feel good to get the little bit of extra workout. But unless I have a tremendous amount of luggage, I never feel a desire to just stand for the ride. I feel that the escalator is a way to enhance the walk on the stairs, not to replace it.
I am often shocked to see people wait for 5 minutes for an elevator just to ride up or down one story when the stairs are right there. I am not, however, shocked to see that these people appear to be out of shape.
There are many karate practitioners who see parts of traditional karate training as antiquated and of limited benefit and therefore choose to discontinue those parts of their training completely. There are other people who just stand there, figuratively speaking, repeating the same traditional ways without any question.
Just as I believe we should use escalators to help us be more efficient in our walks up and down flights of stairs, I think we can improve upon tradition. But I do not think we should become lazy just because we can be.
For example, people at many dojo around the world continue to perform the warm-up and stretching routines almost exactly as they originally experienced them, without questioning the relative value of such a routine versus the alternatives. Much research in recent years has resulted in improved methods of warming up and stretching. But so many people choose to ignore this in favor of doing what is easy, even if it is not as useful and, in some cases, unhealthy and/or dangerous. The same thing goes for many techniques and training methods. Why continue to do what is tradition just for the sake of tradition? Some people repeat these traditions without any clue as to their meanings or ultimate intentions.
That being said, I am not in favor of completely severing ties to tradition. I think that most of the traditions of Karate-do are very worthwhile. Just as I walk or sprint up the escalator, I would never want to discard the old way of karate training, either. Most of what I do in my karate training and teaching is based entirely on what is done at some of the most traditional dojo in Japan.
Another way of looking at this idea of enhancing, as the escalator does for our stair-climbing experience:
I have heard people theorize that one should always drop the body lower when attacking, using the force of gravity to strengthen the technique. Many of these people seem to use this as an excuse to begin from a high stance (which may have its merits in terms of increasing mobility, but that is a subject for other articles). Gravity can be a force that we should want to use in some of our techniques. But it is a relatively weak force when compared to others that we can develop.
Simply dropping the weight and not moving forward at the same time would perhaps result in added stability. But how much would this downward movement help create a more forceful attack directed to the front? I would agree that the force of gravity can help create a more forceful attack. But I think that many people who say this do not actually fully understand the concept if they are simply dropping their weight and nothing more.
By pushing off the back leg when driving forward, without lowering the weight at all, one can create tremendous force toward the front; in many cases more than simply using gravity. But to combine the two can in some situations make for a more powerful attack than just one or the other. In this way, we can use gravity to enhance our technique (or, looking at it from the other way around, the drive off the rear leg to enhance the force of gravity).
You may choose to walk up the stairs when more automated options are available, or to stand on the escalator and use that as a time to rest. I do not think that there is anything “wrong” with either extreme. But I choose to maximize efficiency, walking up the escalator and riding the elevator if it saves time, time that I may be able to spend at the dojo working on efficient training. Keep tradition while improving upon it.
As always: Train Hard, Train Smart.
Copyright © 2004, Jon Keeling
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